Cajon with David Carmona

Aug 11 & 12, 2007 Recap and Pics

By Kasandra “La China”
August  15, 2007

Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy warmly welcomed percussionist extraordinaire, David Carmona of Seattle’s flamenco cuadro, Carmona Flamenco, for an exciting weekend of Flamenco Drumming on Cajon.

It was our SECOND EVER cajon workshop by an international guest artist! David Carmona David Carmona infused us with his youthful enthusiasm for Flamenco drumming, as 10 participants pounded on their newly purchased and/or rented cajons. It was a crazy weekend of Bulerias and Tangos rhythm and tricks, with David’s intermittent interjections of Cajon Virtuosity which left us with mouths open and brains going, “Wut?”

My students inform me that THIS is precisely what happens when I start choreographing footwork on the fly with music A Tiempo.  First the music goes, then if inspired, I put some zapateado together that just sounds awesss.

(Really, I have no idea what I just did.  I just know if it is good or if it is crap.)

If it is GOOD, I look back at my students expectantly and with eyebrows knit, ask, “Can I get a repeat?”…students go, “Wut?”

On Day 1, the class learned Bulerias and was accompanied by Juan de Marias on guitar and Pirouz Ebadypour, cantaor of Pena Bulerias and Flamenco.ca.

Look at all the pretty girls in drumming class.  Where are the boys? Congratulations to Braulio for joining!  He knows where to be…

On Day 2, the class learned Paradiddle exercises to improve technique, reviewed Bulerias and learned several new Tangos rhythms. Paradiddles represent the sounds we are trying to reproduce. Remember to practise your Paradiddles to improve your coordination and accent the first of each beat:

4/4  RLRR LRLL

4/4  RLLR LRRL

4/4  RRLR LLRL

4/4  RLRL LRLR

6/8  RLRLRR LRLRLL

Left to Right:  Julie, Elvira, Pirouz, Lia, Shirley, Oscar, Braulio, David,
Kasandra, Lisa, Jesse, Andrea, Diane, Tradene, Shyiang.

Most of the class was comprised of intermediate dancers that have some mastery over their body parts after years of study.  Much to our chagrin, we discovered our lack of coordination in our hands.  Eg:  Even though my brain was processing and I understood what was going on and what needed to be done, my hands would not execute what was given.  Certainly if my hands were moving at the proper time, there was definately NO soniquete aka “groove” whatsoever.  Darnit, this is like learning Planta Tacon Tacon again but with hands instead of feet!!!  I have been told by an astrologer friend that I have some genious planet that rules my feet…too bad this is not trickling down to my hands.

We are concentrating very haaarrrddd.  But having fun!

Mozaico Trivia:
1.  The First cajon workshop was by the infamous Bulerias-Man Timo Lozano in 2005 …and Timo will return in June 2008 so stay tuned for that!

2.  The Second cajon workshop was by kid genius David Carmona in 2007…he will be baaaaaCK. ;o>

David y La China