The annual fall carnival at Glennwood Elementary was interrupted by stomping and cheers of “Olé,” as kids attending our Fall 2018 residency classes at that school, presented the song and dance, as well as Spanish vocabulary that they have been studying, to peers and parents. The event, held on October 21, 2018, gave students a chance to feel the responsibilities and joys of performing, which is an important part of learning. With only a few weeks of lessons completed, students understood enough about flamenco to explain and show it to the audience.

Kids who study in after school classes that are part of the residency take away much more than skills in the arts.  Teachers tell us that kids in our program excel across the curriculum in leadership, collaboration, and class participation after a few weeks in our courses.  This is a testament to the teamwork, communication, and confidence that flamenco classes foster.

Our methodology of learning while playing emphasizes these intangible qualities as kids focus on music and movement. They smile and laugh as they work through challenges of coordination, rhythm, and sequencing. And, activities that grow knowledge of Spanish language help kids communicate with resident artists in Spanish, as the language is an important part of the cultural experience.

Below, watch kids at Glennwood Elementary in Decatur (Atlanta), Georgia, sing the first portion of a sevillanas that they learned with guitarist Daniel Benítez Perez. It is the song that they performed at the Glennwood carnival just days ago.  The song tells a story of a daisy (margarita) who dreamed of rosemary (romero). Kids take turns accompanying each other in song and dance, in the spirit of teamwork, which is one of the core values of Flamenco.