Pre-professional training program

How do you start a flamenco company in a city where, well, there’s not a lot of flamenco? This is the question I had to ask myself earlier this year. My first calling is choreography (although I never realized it until I’d choreographed dozens of dance - I thought everyone choreographed their own solos in flamenco…I was wrong). My choreography was recognized this year by the Ohio Arts Council, as a recipient of an Individual Excellence Award.

So, here I am in NE Ohio, hungry to set flamenco pieces and grow the next generation of dancers. Gotta start somewhere. So, ABREPASO is starting a training program open to dancers at least 14 years old. No prior flamenco experience necessary. That’s right - you don’t need to know any flamenco moves …you’ll learn them in the training program.

We’re looking for:

Professionalism – professional attitude, willingness to learn and take corrections. Great work ethic and discipline. Applies oneself fully to the steps and accepts challenges. Shows up on time, can commit to the training program.

Enthusiasm – interest in learning flamenco dance. Dedication and commitment to sustained study.

Coordination – although no specific dance training required, general sense of coordination, spatial awareness, physical fitness, and rhythm necessary.

First round of the audition is online. Please fill out this Google Form https://forms.gle/P92UauEsDBEDv7yX7 & send resume and video samples to aliceblumenfeld@gmail.com with subject “audition” by August 20th, 2020. Artistic Director Alice Blumenfeld will call participants for a brief phone interview. Notification of acceptance to in-person audition will be via email. Video sample should be 5-10mins in length.  

Participants will take flamenco dance & contemporary dance classes with artistic director Alice Blumenfeld from September 2020 - May 2021, receiving dance training, professional skills, learning choreography, along with learning flamenco history. Part of the tuition will cover costs for one custom-made flamenco costume. Students will receive highly discounted rate for open classes. Participants will have at least one performance opportunity. For more on Blumenfeld, visit https://www.abrepaso.org/artistic-director

Training program days/times:

mid-September – mid-December & late January – end of May

Approximately 200 hours of training

Wednesdays:  4-6pm (Julia de Burgos CAC)

Fridays: 5pm-8pm (Wilhelm Dance)

Saturdays: afternoons, time TBA

Tuition:

$2,500 of which $500 will be returned upon completion of the program. A costume with value of appx. $250 is included in tuition. No refunds. 50% deposit due at the beginning of the program. Second half of tuition due January 1, 2021. Scholarships/financial assistance are available.