I remember awhile ago wanting to learn more about Moorish Spain (711-1492). At first I thought it meant going to Spain and looking around Andalusia. I don’t know when I got this idea. Perhaps it was around the time I went to the Oriental Institute in Hyde Park, or from seeing an outdoor performance of Othello. or maybe because of the current lack of understanding of Islam right now…I have no clue. But I have been fascinated with this period of history from a particular moment that I can’t remember.
Oddly, I met someone last year who is half-Andalusian, and I spent a year keeping in touch with him and a short time traveling with him (not to Spain:). He fascinated me, and I loved hearing his stories of Seville and Barcelona, and everywhere else he lived and traveled.
And then coincidentally, someone posted on a community board that she had free Flamenco tickets, and I took one of them. The person who took the other ticket was American and had gone to medical school in Madrid. We went together and had a wonderful time. I thought the style would be a bit campy, and although it is, it is also complicated, difficult, attitudinal. I was completely entranced by the beauty and feist of the dancers.
About six months later, I signed myself up for classes and have been slowly developing this skill. I am enjoying it so much, and plan to keep continuing on this journey for awhile.
