Ruffles

playing dress up

Ruffles, ruffled sleeves that gather at the elbow, and a tight bodice. Those are the ingredients for a proper flamenco dress. I learned that today as Maria selected one for me. This AirBnB experience promised to turn me into the loveliest flamenca in all the town, and Maria and her team certainly did their part. First, she explained that flamenco isn’t only a dance, it’s their Andalucian culture. They dress up for special events and ferias, including the most popular one in Spain, which is held in Sevilla in April over several days. Even little girls get dolled up with the ruffly dresses, “over the top” makeup, flowers in their hair, and a pico/mantoncillo. The picos are delicate shawls that are as important as the dresses, with long tassles and sometimes intricate embroidery. Maria chose the color of my pico based on my skin tone and hair color, because that is what would highlight my face, not the dress color.

I was happy with what she chose: a red dress (most have polka dots, but mine did not,) white pico, giant white earrings, and red flowers in my hair.

I was especially excited because I’d get to make a picture of me as the dancing flamenca emoji for Carla. I didn’t know to expect what came next. First, I had a makeup artist put all sorts of color and flair on my face. Poor woman had to fight with my blinking and flinching, but she kept smiling all the while. Then she fixed my hair, including a middle part that is traditional flamenco style. They are very specific with this haute couture! The whole time, there was also a photographer documenting every step. He ended up taking over 300 pictures, and though I’ll share some of the ones from my camera today, I’m sure more will be coming from his. He kept asking me to do a passionate pose and face, and you’ll notice I’m laughing at him almost every time.

Speaking of laughing, I know this is a dance best left to the professionals, but Chad and I are taking a dance lesson before we see a show. I’m excited to understand more of what they are doing. I already have a big appreciation for the preparation and passion these women are expected to bring to each performance.

FOOTNOTES

1) See Instagram @walkgentlyblog for a clip of me twirling. That was as far as my dance lesson went today, because I tripped myself. It was harder than I thought it would be to spin in heels in that tight dress, but I still felt like an elegant senora dancing in a lovely courtyard.)

2) Chad and I came to Sevilla on the high speed “AVE” train this morning. It goes up to 310 km/h, which is 192 mph. We were able to make it here in 2 ½ hours. It was a very smooth and quiet ride, and we would definitely take it again.

3) Writing prompts:

• Haute couture

• If I/one of my chara could dance any style of dance, it would be ____ because…

• Passion…that word comes up a lot for me in these adventures. What does it mean to you?