Arts Council summer program draws wide range of enthusiasts
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
With feet stomping, skirts flowing and castanets clicking, the students in The Arts Council of Princeton’s summer Spanish dance class took to the floor.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Olé, again!" called out instructor Lisa Bottalico, her voice competing with the pulsing background music and the chatter of castanets.
Through all the steps, clicks and body movements, these girls are learning a rare craft at their age flamenco.
"It’s amazing the range of students you attract," Ms. Bottalico said. While some have a Spanish background, "it attracts so many other children who have none of the background at all."
The class the seven-week summer children’s class is for beginning students but Ms. Bottalico teaches classes year-round for all levels, including adults covers authentic Spanish dance moves such as palmas (rhythmic hand clapping), footwork and brazeo (arm work). In addition, the children learn to manipulate the many shawls and fans involved in the dance. "They love to dance with shawls and mimic the bullfighting moves," she said.
"The root of it all, what makes flamenco so difficult, is the rhythm," Ms. Bottalico said, pointing out that the rhythms native to Spain differ greatly from those with which Americans are accustomed.
Children participating in the Spanish dance classes start out at the beginner level and, depending on their ability, can move up to advanced beginner and intermediate levels. Typically, it takes about a year to advance a level, Ms. Bottalico said. The classes have up to 12 students but "I like to keep them at eight," Ms. Bottalico said.
Aside from learning a unique dance, students get a "vigorous" workout, she said.
The dance appeals to those of all shapes and sizes, too.
"There’s not a body type, which is really important this day and age," she said. "You don’t need the long, thin-hipped bodies of the ballerina." Such an open invitation provides a positive body image for girls, she added.
Plus, it’s just pure fun.
"They get to make noise, dance with neat props and the music is tantalizing for them they dance to the bullfight music, the matador music," she said.
Because the Spanish dance classes particularly at the children’s level are so rare, The Arts Council offering draws students from throughout the state. "I have kids who come to me from Manalapan, Freehold," she said.
Dulce Blanco, a native of Spain now living in Princeton, enrolled her daughter, Sara, in the summer session.
"We go every year to Spain since she was born," Ms. Blanco said. Although Ms. Blanco hails from Madrid, the family frequently visits the south of Spain where the flamenco is most prevalent. There, she said, "there’s always some party going on."
In addition to enrolling her daughter, Ms. Blanco joined Ms. Bottalico’s adult session, which is also offered through The Arts Council. "In Madrid, (flamenco) isn’t something you learn without lessons," Ms. Blanco said. "In the south of Spain it’s different, because they see it at every party they go to."
Ms. Bottalico the principal dancer at the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre, where she was also recently elected to serve a three-year term as president of its board has been teaching dance since 1989. In 1999, she began offering classes through The Arts Council, which has "been very open to this sort of dance," Ms. Bottalico said.
For more information about future Spanish dance class offerings, visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.