The 2021 KW Flamenco Fest Tangos Concurso:
Download the track here!
Download the tangos track for the concurso.
Challenge yourself by entering the Tangos Concurso
This event has been created to celebrate all the work that flamenco dance enthusiasts have been putting into their craft while cooped up at home, and an opportunity to showcase each participant’s artistry. Entrants are asked to prepare a dance that they can perform to a designated track (recorded by yours truly, and downloadable below) and to submit a video of themselves dancing alongside the recording by 11:59pm on July 18th. Awards will be announced during an online gala with our guest judges on the afternoon of July 31st. All interested participants are invited to register under one of the three available categories by clicking on the “Register here” tab in the “Registration details” section below.
Guest judges:
Our international guest judges will be dancer, Irene Alvarez and flamenco guitarist, Alexander Gavilan. Both Alvarez and Gavilan are faculty members at Codarts Conservatory, NL, where they teach post-secondary music students the skills required for flamenco ensemble work.
Video featuring Irene & Alexander with their colleagues
The KW Flamenco Fest founders, Claudia & Julian, will also serve on the judging panel, but as assistants.
Challenge yourself by entering the Tangos Concurso
This event has been created to celebrate all the work that flamenco dance enthusiasts have been putting into their craft while cooped up at home, and an opportunity to showcase each participant’s artistry. Entrants are asked to prepare a dance that they can perform to a designated track (recorded by yours truly, and downloadable below) and to submit a video of themselves dancing alongside the recording by 11:59pm on July 18th. Awards will be announced during an online gala with our guest judges on the afternoon of July 31st. All interested participants are invited to register under one of the three available categories by clicking on the “Register here” tab in the “Registration details” section below.
Guest judges:
Our international guest judges will be dancer, Irene Alvarez and flamenco guitarist, Alexander Gavilan. Both Alvarez and Gavilan are faculty members at Codarts Conservatory, NL, where they teach post-secondary music students the skills required for flamenco ensemble work.
Video featuring Irene & Alexander with their colleagues
The KW Flamenco Fest founders, Claudia & Julian, will also serve on the judging panel, but as assistants.
Registration details:
Eligibility: All student of flamenco dance, from beginner to semi-professional, are welcome to enter.
Cost: Participation is free! However, as a way of trying to promote the arts in the Region of Waterloo, we ask that those not directly affiliated with the Region (i.e., who do not live, work, or take classes from an instructor in the Region) consider making a voluntary donation to the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund. Details on how donations can be made will be provided closer to the date of the gala.
Registration dates & capacity: Registration remains up until the video submission deadline (July 18th) or until all 15 spots have been filled.
Gala attendance: In order to protect the privacy of our contestants, members of the public cannot register as gala spectators. The Zoom link will be made available to all registrants, Fest sponsors and volunteers, Region of Waterloo flamenco students, and invitees of the contestants and festival organizers.
Register here
Registration guidelines
Categories
Participants can register in 1 of 3 categories (click to open):
1. Nivel Inicio
For those still early-on in their flamenco training, i.e., haven’t had the opportunity to participate in very many recitals, or dance solo at flamenco parties; have yet to take classes with multiple instructors; and whose breadth of flamenco knowledge (i.e., the structures and letras of different palos, dance-accompanist communication, and influential artists) is still in its early stages. This category is recommended for those with 2 or less years experience.
2. Aficionada
For dedicated flamenco practitioners who have been chiselling away at learning the artform for several years; meaning, you’ve had your share of classes with various instructors, have participated in various performances, and have been an avid listener and spectator for quite some time. In addition to that, you practice flamenco regularly.
3. Giggers & Teachers
For dancers who have performed in a flamenco company, have led their own flamenco classes, and have experience dancing—solo—alongside guitarists and singers in tablaos and juergas, and who feel comfortable dancing various palos.
Awards & Prizes
There will be an overall winner for each category, plus honourary mentions for different facets of the performance.
The overall winner of the Nivel Inicio category will win a bundle of 5 group classes with Claudia Aguirre.
The overall winner of the Aficionada and Giggers & Teachers categories will win a private Zoom lesson with Irene Alvarez.
The overall winner for entrants 12 years and under will get a special prize of a flamenco shawl (“mantoncillo”) care of our sponsor, the Danceshoppe.
Expectations
- Nivel Inicio registrants will be expected to dance to one section of the piece, e.g., Section 1.
- Aficionada registrants will be expected to dance to three consecutive sections of the piece, e.g., any three consecutive sections as of Section 2 onward.
- Giggers & Teachers will be expected to dance to the whole piece.
Entrants will need to sign a photo/video release form, so that videos can be streamed during the gala and shared with fellow competitors. Still shots from the video submissions may also be used on the Fest’s online platforms.
Competitor’s videos will be due via a selected file sharing platform (TBD) on Sunday, July 18th by 11:59pm.
Choreography can be original, from a class or workshop, or a combination of different choreography. Competitors will be asked to list the names of the choreographers upon submission.
Registrants will receive the track, via email, on Monday, June 20th by 11:59pm.
Registration must be completed via this website in order to secure your spot in the competition.
Tangos Structure
Click a section to expand.
Intro: Guitar solo
1. Salida & 1st Letra
0:30 – 1:14
This section has a salida and a letra
Salida: “Ay lu” + “Sentaita…” (Tangos by El Chaqueta)
- Salida: Ay lu… le le le le le le…
- Letra: Ay sentaita en la escalera, esperando el porvenir, el porvenir nunca llega
Translation: Sitting on the staircase, waiting for the future, the future never arrives.
Reference: https://youtu.be/2wNMkv7oESo?t=39
2. Tientos letras por Tangos
1:15 – 2:44
This section has 2 letras and a coletilla
“Lo van a prender” + “Me voy a meter” + “Tiene mi serrana”
- Letras: Lo van a prender mañana, a todos los ojitos negros, los van a prender mañana. Y tu que negro los tienes, te echaste un velo a la cara.
Translation: They will light up tomorrow. All the black eyes, will light up tomorrow; and you, who has black eyes, cover your face with a veil.
- Que tenga rejas de bronce. Me voy a meter a un convento, que tenga rejas de bronce, pa’ cuando vengas a verme, tu de mi cuerpo no goces.
Translation: May it have bronze railings. I will enter a convent that has bronze railings, so that when you come visit me, of my body, you cannot enjoy.
- Coletilla: Tiene mi serrana, la carita de una rosa cuando se levanta por la mañana.
Translation: My gal from the mountain range, rises in the morning with a little rosiness on her face.
Reference: https://youtu.be/8se1gMBBH8I?t=54
3. Falseta
2:45 – 3:04
4. Tangos from "Caramelito"
3:05 – 4:03
This section has 2 letras
“De niegue” + “Caramelito” by El Falo
- Letras: De niegue, hasta la cintura. Mi novia con otro novio, y yo con tanta amargura.
Translation: Denial all the way up to the waistline. My girlfriend with another boyfriend, and I with so much bitterness.
- Te acuerdas cuando me dabas caramelito de tu boca; y yo te lo despreciaba.
Translation: Remember when you used to give me little bits of caramel from your mouth? And I used to dismiss it.
Reference: https://youtu.be/Tyxe_OX5Bzc?t=20
5. Tangos de Málaga
4:04 – 4:43
This section is one letra that repeats the same melody twice
“Madroñera”
- Letra: La quien quiera madroño, vaya a la sierra. A olé, morena, vaya a la sierra. Porque se está secando su madroñera, ay olé morena, vaya a la sierra.
Translation: Whomever wants madrone berries, go to the mountain. Ole, brunette, go to the mountain, because your madrone tree is drying.
Reference: https://youtu.be/B-eUyxa-rJs?t=51
6. Footwork
4:44 – 5:00
7. Tangos Extremeños & Estribillo
5:01 – 5:52
This section has a letra and an estribillo (refrain)
“Adela” + “Pepe mío”
- Letra: No me dejes con Adela, que Adela tiene un cuchillo pa’ quien se meta con ella.
Translation: Do not leave me with Adela, because Adela has a knife for whomever messes with her.
Reference: https://youtu.be/yTa0buzVkJU?t=48
- Estribillo: Ay, Pepe mío, ay Pepe mío ven pa’ ca, que no me hagas mas sufrir y ni tampoco más llorar.
Translation: Oh, my Pepe, come here. Do not make me suffer more, nor cry anymore.
Reference: https://youtu.be/Bfv6JbNWJ-w?t=133