On Wednesday 25th students from Year 8 to 11 had the opportunity to learn a bit more about flamenco dance and Spanish cuisine thanks to a fabulous day organised by our Spanish teacher, Lourdes.
RIC invited the flamenco dancer Ángela Alonso and the guitarist Tony el Despeinao for a workshop about Flamenco. Students had the opportunity to get dressed in traditional clothes: the girls in Flamenco polka dot skirts (faldas) and summer scarves (pañuelos) and the boys with Flamenco hats (sombrero cordobés) and summer scarves (pañuelos). Then Ángela taught them some curiosities about flamenco such as the two-weeks it takes to make a pair of good-quality Flamenco shoes which has little nails at the front and back of the soles! She also taught them how to use castañuelas (castanets) and gave an impressive demonstration of their use with the tune of a Pasodoble. Then students were taught some basic Flamenco steps.
Lower school also tried some churros con chocolate, a traditional doughnut-like breakfast with cinnamon flavour.
At 4pm Years 10 and 11 also had dinner at the Spanish restaurant of La Tasca. Students had to order in Spanish, take notes during a live demonstration of cooking paella, complete a quiz on the day and they even left with a goodie bag! This helped students practise a restaurant conversation in an authentic environment as well as learn about Spanish gastronomy. For this activity, Geography teacher Rose-Marie and English teacher Sebastian were of great help. Sebastian also did a fantastic job with the video camera!
Great day, with fantastic feedback from students, who asked for it to be organised again but for longer this time so they can learn more flamenco steps as they really got into it. Another workshop on how to play castanets and learn more Flamenco steps soon? Let’s wait and see.
Some of the feedback received:
“When we got to dress up and we got to try a bit of Flamenco dancing that was great fun. I thought the lady who was teaching us was really good at dancing and the man playing the guitar was very good as well. I really really enjoyed the workshop and would love to do it again” (Holly, year 8 )
“I liked the dancing but I would like to learn how to use the castañuelas (castanets)” (Ellen, year 8 )
“The castanets were very impressive. I liked the dancing and churros. It was overall very good” (Caitlin, year 8 )
“I liked the feel you were having a lesson in Spain” (Joel, year 8 )
“I liked the castanets most because it was really good and she did it really fast” (Gerry, year 8 )
“I really enjoyed the churros and the dancing” (comment by most of year 9 )
“I liked La Tasca the most because the food was really nice and it was fun to order in Spanish” (Holly, year 10 )
“I liked trying out the Flamenco dancing. I also thought it was fun trying on the outfits. It was interesting learning about flamenco dancing. I enjoyed La Tasca very much as it was interesting learning about the traditional Spanish food and trying them”(Alexia, year 10 )
“I liked dressing up and learning the basics of flamenco; also enjoyed putting my learning of Spanish to the test and trying new food” (Harriet, year 10 )
“I enjoyed the man cooking paella and especially the quiz. It was also very well organised and ran very smoothly” (Tom, year 10 )
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