Flamenco Life and Self-Care

I have done various kinds of dancing my whole life, but I started learning flamenco a couple of years ago because I love the combination of feminine flourish and fiery passion that it contains. As I learned more about it I really came to appreciate the depth of cognitive, kinetic, and musical skill-building that it takes. Just when I think I am starting to get it, I realize how much more there is to learn but rather than despairing this gives me a sense of comfort – I will be a lifelong student of flamenco.

Last fall I started taking classes with Mozaico, first in the Burnaby studio and then downtown, but I was also going back to school to get my master’s degree in psychology and there were many days when I couldn’t make it to class because of hefty assignments or my changing schedule, and other days I arrived with such a tired brain that the best I could do was trip over my feet for an hour.

Then COVID-19 arrived. For a few weeks, it was pandemonium…hoarding toilet paper, trying to get a home office set up and eating all the comfort foods. I really missed dancing but I have never got the hang of exercising at home so it did not occur to me that I would continue learning flamenco over Zoom in the midst of a global pandemic! And yet, here we are and I have come to love it.

The first week of online classes I posted a Zoom selfie with the caption, “as if flamenco isn’t hard enough!” but slowly and surely I rearranged my office so that I had a mirror, a large monitor, and floor protection. I found that the lack of commute meant that not only did I not miss classes, but I picked up extra ones. And when things got busy with school, instead of taking a break, I found myself setting an alarm to get up from my desk every hour to practice a llamada or some hips or torso technique – even if I have to move my dogs out of the way.

While I can follow along behind someone in class pretty well, I have learned that I need to repeat the movements over and over again before they click and being able to have all of my notes in front of me, as well as a consistent practice space, has been really helpful to my progress. At least I think it has! It will be interesting to see what it looks like when we get back in front of the big mirrors.

I do like to perform but I am mostly dancing for my own joy and the benefits for physical and mental health. I loved the studio classes and am excited to return, but the slow pace and technical requirements of online learning have meant that we are spending time on basics and micro-movements and this feels great to know we are getting it right before rushing it. How Kasandra can keep track of what we are all doing in our little squares (while dancing herself!) is beyond me, but the feedback and attention to detail are really appreciated.

And in the midst of all this stress and uncertainty, dance has come to occupy a key part of my day and my coping mechanisms. Because mental health therapists are so susceptible to burnout, we are required to create a self-care plan but while several of my colleagues have been struggling to find alternatives to playing hockey or going to the gym, I have printed my plan out and hung it above my dancing shoes. It is so amazing to be able to turn off my brain for a break and express myself through these deep, affective movements…stomping my feet and flinging up my arms, etc. I think flamenco may be the perfect activity for a pandemic.

Flamenco Life and Self-Care

Blog by Degan
Pandemic Day 163