Flamenco is a language | Alice Blumenfeld | TEDxFulbrightSantaMonica

Based in New York City, Alice Blumenfeld's powerful performances onstage, and her scholarly work offstage, make her a preeminent force in the American flamenco dance scene. Soon to hold an MFA in dance from Hollins University's low residency program (will graduate in 2017), she continues to push her artistic development forward. At TEDxFulbright she performed with musician Gabriel Osuna.

Blumenfeld currently tours with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, along with creating her own work, featured most recently at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts’ Millennium Stage (June 2014)
Alice Blumenfeld's powerful performance onstage, and her scholarly work offstage, make her a preeminent force in the American flamenco dance scene. According to Thinking Dance: "[Blumenfeld has] a fierce presence (her movements seem to arise from several feet beneath the ground) ..."
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@steverlfs]

I am a retired man who decided to study flamenco guitar. The more I learn about flamenco, I see that it is a Chinese puzzle of wonders, with one thing leading to another through incredible passion and beauty. It is indeed a language!

[@DynamicVibeCraft]

I couldn’t believe I would join a flamenco club and perform flamenco songs to audiences. But the truth is I love every minute of it

[@martin87543]

what a kind, candid and clear way of explaining the beauty art of flamenco to non-flamenco audience! Ole, ole y ole!

[@WM37980]

She communicates well the passion of flamenco and also the technical cues that dancers and musicians use to meet each other in their own frequency, and swim together!

[@kulitputihhatiputih8404]

I have learnt flamenco since 2008. When I was a student of classical guitar. I can't lie flamenco it's more absorbed in my soul than classical music.

[@charlessmith263]

I have autism, and because of the high creative improvisation scale flamenco dance provides, I was self-taught in it and I try to flamenco dance, emulating some of the great flamenco artists out there. Moreover - since I also have music training - long experience of composition, I was able to compose at least several original flamenco songs myself, even though I never had grown up in the area of Andalucia - the place where they say that flamenco started. I also know that there is also an Romany-gypsy side to the history of flamenco too - nomads who were kicked out of certain regions and forced to move someplace else several times but expressed their oppressions with guitars, singing, tapping, clapping (or "palmas") and arm movements that flamenco dance has today.

[@JarredSalad]

Thanks for sharing, Charles :)

[@alexandriatrenier7366]

That’s amazing

[@kaushikroy5275]

Few days ago I got to know about the history of roma people,there was mentioned flamenco dance is from this group of people who actually migrated from India. Now it seems quite true as she mentioned improvisation like jazz(but I think deliberately ignored Indian classical music or dance), it has emotive qualities too. If anyone has any other information,feel free to put light on it.

[@jimmylee1776]

There are videos in KZbin about flamenco & Indian music. Do a search in KZbin. Gypsy people originated from Rajasthan, in north western India. They are nomadic people

[@lawcch]

flamenco is a form of art combination of singers, dancers, percussionists, and guitarist. Just like a mini/ small orchestra.

[@witoldnowak9327]

Rather a small opera than just a small orchestra.

[@redstar7292]

I've heard it's from the gypsy tradition. It's aurally learnt. Its a number of set rhythms & then they just improvise it like jazz. That's how it's authentically performed. It is emotional though the way opera is..

[@vivianbouet1627]

I feel like I knew nothing about this beautiful and expressive dance and now...want to learn so much more!

[@mathieulanglois6080]

That Gabriel Osuna doing the cante and awesome guitar accompaniment of the baile at the same time is really impressive! She's quite the dancer as well! OLE!

[@1NEFFIBLE]

When one's body language can ACTUALLY "spell" out the word, a perfect dance will be achieved within graceful calligraphy portrayed by The Artist. ☝️😇🤚

[@luciamoir2641]

great way to show what flamenco is...thank you!!!!!

[@marakmaracucha]

Olé! This is hands down the best description to Flamenco! 👏🏼

[@astridrodriguez2809]

Wow! I Just Started Flamenco Classes And I’m Seeing This, I Hope This Is Me In The Future!

[@mimicc2]

I have been doing Flamenco for 8 years and trust me it is sooooo worth it

[@kristinahahn9741]

Thank you, Alice, for sharing your #fightsworthfighting on the TEDxFulbright stage!

[@piehound]

Having an appreciation for all kinds of music, all kinds of visual arts, and all kinds of dance . . . i already knew that flamenco is a type of communication . . . as all art forms are. But this day i learned the specific term " *subida* " which (i'm told) means "going up" or "increase the tempo." Jolly good show. I LUV to learn new stuff.

[@jonathaneffemey944]

thanks so much for posting

[@kbkesq]

Not many can sing and play flamenco guitar. Great performance by both. Olé!

[@marioamayaflamenco]

Great job! Both of you!

[@alexandriatrenier7366]

Every time I see flamenco dancers, I wanna join them.

[@bernardocutamora6685]

I love flamengco music, and I salute to flamenco artist

[@miledysdatena9865]

Nice! Thanks for the presentation!

[@rebelholiday]

Beautiful!

[@evabradley3494]

A wonderful presentation,very valuable as I pursue my Flamenco journey.

[@IIVVBlues]

Excellent presentation!

[@m0nicabang]

wonderful!!!! Ole!!

[@robinmarks5638]

Loved this!!!

[@claudiasunshinetristancho5595]

Dance medicine!❤

[@FlamencosViajeros]

Great, Alice. Good job! :)

[@tanjagittasattler9006]

Fantastische Tänzerin, wunderschöne Bewegungen, charmant, kreativ und exakt auf den Punkt, ebenso tolle Fußarbeit, perfekt! Oléééé!

[@SharonOlveraFlamenco]

Congrats Alice! Ole!

[@carlosoliver1887]

Que bonitas alegrías! pedazo de guitarrista

[@VonSolo5]

Sensational 🌹✨

[@gloriasch1590]

Beautiful

[@rocketgroot4311]

*it's just so hypnotizing*

[@junhongskungfuclub2804]

Ted talk and dance! She is killin it

[@prepperchannel]

wonderfully educational!

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

All folk dance,. Is. Community,. Love,. All communication

[@melonsoda123]

My flamenco teacher from college always told me that the singer and guitarist are the main performers in any flamenco performance, not the dancer. Alice is a beautiful and dynamic dancer :-)

[@luciamoir2641]

In a cuadro flamenco with Dance, Cante and Guitar, as far as I know, yes is the dancer who leads...

[@1AvW1]

Your teacher is almost right: the foremost important person in flamenco percormances are (in Spain) the cantaores. Accompaniments can be done with any instruments from clapping, using knuckles, stamping, beating boxes, a piano, a violin or a flute, to a well sounding vase (tinaga). Or no accompaniment at all… A guitar is just an easy instrument because you can use is as a beatbox, a rithmes, play a solo. And it is easy to carry with you. I know… I'm one of these guitarerros - guitarplayers. Oh yes, and of course- since Sabicas and Paco we have the concert flamenco guitarerros ;)

[@angela47u]

That is your teacher's experience and opinion and interpretation. The dancer, to me, adds the essential element, with all being important in the "message" -- the language of the flamenco spirit.

[@davidrees7978]

@@angela47uall three have the spirit!

[@xavscriptus3511]

¡Qué duende!

[@lunabenegas6561]

Y la gente no aplaudió cuando dijo they are languages that are worth fighting for

[@XianixFlamenco]

Arsaaaaa!!!

[@Darrenowsley]

Bravo Alice!

[@musiclove9748]

Ooooleee to you with this Alegria! :)

[@KushanDwarsingh]

I definitely hear the influence of Kathak here

[@yl4974]

Very nice

[@tomlidot4871]

Brava!

[@ddskimmer]

BEAUTIFUL! AWESOME! OLE MORENA! ASI BELLA!

[@KushanDwarsingh]

wow

[@hortus8704]

Очень техничная девушка

[@colleenbonniwell4226]

freeform 🌹

[@maribelpelayo7472]

He should of play without her dancing so she would’ve take a break and catch her breath, just an opinion. But overall it was beautiful!!!🙏🏻✨🎶

[@maribelpelayo7472]

“Llamadas” and “subidas” that’s new to me, this’s so interesting! 💃✨

[@dborg56]

She is catching her breath during the slow periods!

[@spacewolfcub]

At the start of vid you can see they have a countdown timer. It’s a live presentation and they have (it seems) 15min for the entire thing.

[@mcb3167]

Viva el Flamenco. Viva España 🇪🇦

[@rosalindajimenez5544]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@davidhegge29]

100 percent Norwegian US background. But have full Flamenco dancer outfit. Do you have suggestions for good castanets?

[@9832623469]

👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️

[@kingajackson9118]

👍

[@suuzq02]

You are CLASSY beautiful!!!!!!!!!! Thank you 🙏

[@marinodiaz474]

there was a hint of a luau at the 3 minute mark. After this I would consider it an interpretation of various cultures she has studied over the years. I'd say it's more of the dance of what she takes as all humanity in it's ever so adaptive ways. The guitarist is very well versed in the jazz and flamenco style. His voice is wonderful. Her knowledge is quite outstanding though, I'm happy for them as artists. Although I was lost at the jabberwocky. Never read it but I'll take a look into it and update my thoughts on her take. Other than that it was a wonderful interpretation of what flamenco is it what used to be.

[@balmytiger]

North American flamenco right here

[@balmytiger]

And I don't mean it's bad, it just looks and sounds nothing like Andalucian Flamenco. Main thesis of the talk was very good 👍!

[@Dev_Gurjar_Singh]

Indian dance is also language... So you are pure indian history

[@fantaxsea6791]

the flamenco also represent the people of andalucia and their pain and the torture they went through after the fallen of their city the dances it contain a hidden messages and when muslims was banned from practicing their religion on actually the word olé some of the History scholars link the word to arabic word allah meaning god in arabic language and the origin name of flamenco came from the word فلاح منكوب ,"distressed peasant"

[@LeroyBrown]

Castanet?

[@richardhastings5860]

Castanets are used in more classical & folk forms.

[@carmelcorreale3211]

In flamenco the dancers scowl a lot but here she’s just demonstrating too much smiling happiness..to be showing ‘passion’ which usually demonstrates anger for a reason or another usually love

[@vymrdanejkralicek]

The palo is alegrías, therefore the happiness. Look for farruca or soleá dance and you might find the passion and scowl, you're mentioning.

[@martin87543]

passion is not related to anger or love only, that's the stereotype she described a lot of people who's not into the flamenco art thinks of at the beginning of her speech. Flamenco is a very complex art.

[@kendagammell4654]

Castanets

[@musashidanmcgrath]

Not a Flamenco instrument. You're confusing Spanish folk music with Gitano folk music(Flamenco)

[@alt_4186]

@@musashidanmcgrath Flamenco is spanish what are u talking about lmao

[@masdificiltodavia]

the singer must be spanish....the song is diferent with this acent

[@lifeasvanessa8885]

Flamenco is a Gypsy heart NOT Spanish heart!! 💙❤💚

[@vanessasevilla9094]

Both.

[@tonyv9317]

No

[@josemanuellustresgomez2759]

Falso. Solo el flamenco se da en España y gitanos hay en muchas partes del.mundo. Es la combinación, un lugar de incubación, España, y una simbiosis entre lo gitano y el resto de genialidades netamente españolas.

[@IsabelRodriguez-gb7tu]

Nope.

[@sudestica]

Si❤️Opre Roma. There is no flamenco without the Roma passion

[@conchipardo9777]

Esto no es flamenco...En una actuación flamenca nadie se duerme. Nadie. Principalmente, por que nadie habla.

[@GabrielRDLGabi]

No señora! Ella baile super bien y se acaso no te enterastes esto es una charla acerca de lo que es el flamenco, para guiris! Y esta estupendo! O sea, no se donde no se ve flamenco!

[@zer-d-ishtar6547]

A genuine flamenco is born on the verge of denying life - every dance that takes place serves as the result of someone’s spiritual victory over the power of Thanatos, attraction to non-existence ... without this spear there is no flamenco! Do you have such a struggle on the verge of falling and flying? Are your bids so high, your own challenge? Well-off people cannot feel the taste of flamenco, it doesn’t tell them anything - except when to enter the musician)) but this is completely irrelevant.

[@josemanuellustresgomez2759]

Bla, bla, bla El flamenco es la vida y el desplante ante la vida, pueblo y pueblo. Los intelectuales sobran en el flamenco, son meros frikis que no conectan con el, pero se lo creen. La filosofía no conocerá nunca el flamenco. Bla, bla y bla.

[@gc1282]

🤨

[@redstar7292]

But this is the best flamenco! Its the passion and anguish of the bull fight. The struggle..The Spanish see their lives in it somehow. .The singers sound like their being impaled & you can see it all in the movements of the dancers , the bull, the matador..the horses ...it's also their brand of anguishef Catholism. But i think she explained quite well though.

[@G212Made]

Is she Spanish though? It felt forced 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@stopato5772]

Nah, she is well versed and natural.... if you know flamenco, on stage you do perform to express.

[@dkoz8321]

Morticia Addams is so much better.

[@leepinnguin9682]

too bad the college she worked for messing with her ~ see: (Fired Oberlin Prof lawsuit: Told “we can’t just hire another white woman from the Midwest with a husband” ~ Posted by William A. Jacobson ~ Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 8:00pm) they didn't know a good teacher!

[@josemanuellustresgomez2759]

¿Flamenco? No, no, no, that is gimns with a guitar tryng to sound as flamenco. No hay duende, no hay hondura, no hay gracia ni pellizco. En resumen NO HAY AGE!!

[@ivanmartinez-jd8gi]

Madre mía qué esquisitos son algunos... Flamenco es otra cosa es que sea perfecto

[@elianatarifa1544]

She dances so soft not with passion !!! It is not ballet !!

[@KarlsBerg87]

Really bad out of 'compas' singing. South Spanish and flamenco here.

[@KarlsBerg87]

She was brave to bring somebody to sing flamenco that poorly can pronounce Spanish lol

[@gryprrs1000]

Doesn't have the passion of a true Spaniard!!

[@alexbulerias]

a true spaniard from where?...catalunya? Galicia? alicante?...

[@dbee8477]

Spaniards didn’t invent flamenco the Romani did

[@alt_4186]

@@dbee8477 Current flamenco has more influences, it's not just romani

[@dbee8477]

@@alt_4186 it’s a Romani dance clearly related to south Asian styles. And before you start arab music scales etc came from India brought by ROMANI.

[@alt_4186]

@@dbee8477 If you think current flamenco looks like an actual indian dance you're pretty much blind, in its origins flamenco might have been a romani dance, now it's a mixture between different cultures (also you can tell the singing has arabic influence)

[@bernardocutamora6685]

I love flamengco music, and I salute to flamenco artist

[@GOLDESCAFLOWNE]

Beautiful