Castanets

I haven't written much about my dance classes at the Centro. I will share some of the good and hard times we are going through at school.

Three times a week, after siesta, I have a castanet class from six to seven. I usually arrive quite groggy from my rest, which always feels like it was not long enough. Then Sara, our teacher, takes over. She is tiny young woman who looks very fragile and elegant. But don't be fooled by the looks. This girl is a powerhouse. She makes us toe the line!

From the very first lesson on, she drilled us in posture, arms, and of course, castanet playing. We have practiced the dreaded "RRRIA!" for hours on end. Arms in first position. In second position. In fifth position. The rrria is the sound the castanet is supposed to make, using four fingers of the right hand in rapid succession. It should be a fast, sharp and clear gallop sound. We poor beginners are barely able to make those castanets sound at all. Usually mine sound like a piece of cheap plastic being banged together with a dying sound. "Pffflrthgh".

We practice pliés, relevés, chassés, tombés, fouettés, turns and jumps. Sara will tolerate no lack of discipline. No leaning against the wall, please. No one sits down. Straight postures in her class! When we hold our arms above our heads, NO ONE TAKES THEM DOWN unless she says so. Today we has to hold our arms high up there and play the castanets for 20 minutes. We had to grow and grow and grow and stretch and make ourselves as tall as possible. And not forget to breathe. And pull our stomachs in. And keep our heads up. And our shoulders down. And no one takes their arms down, otherwise the whole group will repeat the excercise! Everyone thought they were going to die of the effort. By the time my hands were tingling, my arms felt like they were going to fall off and my eyes were blurry from the pain, I was allowed to bring my arms down.

This may sound dreadful, but we are actually having fun. That's because Sara is our age and has a sense of humour. We laugh together with her about our miserable turns and rrrias. She may yell at us and never be happy with our results - but always with a twinkle in her eye. She is full of energy and is very good at transmitting it to us. I love this in a teacher. She wants us to give our 100% best. And in return, she gives us her 100%. It's a fair exchange, and I usually leave the class completely drained, but not feeling bad at all. Gracias Sara!