What a week!

Rosanna Maya

Naturally, there is so much preparation involved that my days are so full right now. My life is pretty much my work. I’ve been dancing flamenco for 12 years and have just come back from a fantastic experience, a flamenco festival in southern Spain which is where I found my two Spanish boys. Dancing to live music is so much better – you find yourself really experiencing the beauty of flamenco, your movements flow that much easier, it’s wonderful.

My poor flatmate has to listen to all kinds of trials and tribulations, so we sit up and chat late at night.

Tuesday
All I have in the morning is water. But I do eat enough, plenty! My working days all end at 11pm so it’s at lunch and late at night that I get to eat.
Had a cancellation of a class so went to Valletta to get my boys (the Spanish) their permits from Castille and Floriana.

Went home and relaxed and about 5pm started teaching again. Had a group of nine children, followed by a Spanish language lesson.

Took the boys to the Argentinian steak house at Bay Street for dinner.

Wednesday
Early rise. Today’s my yoga day. I really enjoy going to Annabel Fleri Soler, it’s my time for me.

Flamenco is an expression of the soul, ideal for adults of every shape and size. I have some gorgeous big dancers in my classes. Flamenco just depends on how you feel. I even have some adults who come to lessons every day.

I have only five male dancers in the school. If only more men realised that in flamenco they don’t have to do much to look good and to have women swoon for them!

Once a person accepts who they are and are not afraid to be themselves, the confidence level as an individual increases. I try to get them to perform as much as possible to eradicate any ‘not worthy’ attitude.

Thursday
Took it easy in the morning. Took the boys to Valletta again, bought them swimming trunks although the weather was lousy. One didn’t feel like doing too much. Took them to a supermarket. They both loved Valletta, they feel extremely at home here but they don’t speak English so I kind of have to read the menu at lunchtimes.

A man walked into the studio to ask if I knew if there was any Argentinian tango going on. I happened to know that there would be a party in an Italian restaurant in Valletta, so I took the boys there but we didn’t stay long. They prefer being in a place where there aren’t so many people.

Had classes as usual in the afternoon. I’m preparing the girls for an exam, so I have a pianist, Fiona in to play for them. It will give them a more authentic feeling and approach to the work.

Friday
Did ALAP, as little as possible because of the awful rain, anyway that was the intention! I had an appointment at 8am! It was with the designers to do the flyers, and I spent two hours there at the Salesians. I stayed with the designer to verify everything. Back down for lunch, and took the slides to have them turned into prints.

Had my weekly massage by Julie Edwards in Marsascala. Ever since I had an operation on my spine I’ve taken good care of myself.

Did some shopping for tomorrow’s barbecue, meat and stuff, and went to classes.

I am preparing a lot of choreography right now, in particular for the opening of Portomaso. I do my choreography by seeing visions while I drive! I see the movements, how the lights are going to change, it’s like I take a photograph of what I’m seeing in my mind. When I come to the studio I try and remember everything, like having watched a film. As regards the actual steps, I get into the studio, play some music and have a vision of what I saw and put some steps to it.

Often I tend to forget the steps, I just hope that the students remember them! Thankfully they get used to my way of working. It’s like I’m doing a painting – I do paint and it’s very much a part of my work. I always thought that I’d dance and when I got too old for that I’d paint. But painting needs practice too!
Had dinner with friends while the boys were performing in a restaurant in Marsascala.

Saturday
Woke up early, far too early. Did last minute shopping for the barbecue – had to borrow a car because I’d left mine at the hotel, and then I went to pick up the slides from the Times and the boys came over. They started making tortilla for me.

At 2pm I came back here for rehearsals for the production we will be putting on for the opening of Portomaso, it’s a piece called Poeta, to music by Vincente Amigo, a mixture of modern, classical and Spanish dances.

At 3.30pm started rehearsing Tangos, a Spanish tango which is real fun. Flamenco is a solo dance essentially, although the traditional folk flamenco is for couples and groups.

At 7.30pm my friend Dorothy came over and told me who I had to call to catch up on publicity. She has been helping me tremendously, we all help each other, it really is a family.

As luck would have it, people started arriving and I wasn’t ready, so I didn’t change clothes. We had a lovely group of people, some students, foreigners. After a little wine, voices warmed up and we really had a Spanish flamenco barbecue at home. I was completely knackered at the end of that.

Sunday
Tidied up the mess! Then I took the boys to see the little 17th century place I’ve bought in Zejtun which needs tremendous upkeep. We went on to Marsaxlokk and they did a bit of tourist shopping, after which we had lunch. Don’t ask me where, it was near the market and we had fish. We drove to Wied iz-Zurrieq and down to the temples. Sadly we couldn’t see Mnajdra, you’re not allowed in. The Spanish are very much in touch with things of the soul, so they were saddened that entry was barred. They are very inspired by the oldness of everything here. We visited a church as well, then had tea at Fontanella and chocolate cake, and it was back home for me and got changed, after which I went to see Felix’s Dirty Dancing. Time for a quick drink at Les Lapins. We chatted and solved each other’s problems – well, I have to be a mother in some way, being that I’m unmarried and single and child-less. People like to talk to me about their problems, they sense that I am completely open.

We drank a toast to our absent mothers: Ingrid and I raised an empty glass to the sky because our mothers have passed away.

My greatest concern is to increase an understanding of the art of flamenco. Through flamenco, people do discover a lot about themselves and they are greatly liberated from hang-ups. It’s a way of relieving extra stress, and the dance gives you courage.

As far as the school is concerned, I’d like to develop the professionalism of both our productions and the artistic expression of the performers.

The classes are very well attended. I have 80 students, so for something’s that so specialised I’m happy with the outcome.