I've been doing flamenco for a few years now and I can say that I'm pretty good, good enough to be in a show. However, my company director says I don't do jaleo (yelling "ole" and such) and that's a problem. The reason I don't do it is because I feel, well...kinda stupid doing it. I feel silly saying anything other than "ole" because I don't speak Spanish all that well and it just feels fake. Nothing else about flamenco feels fake for me--I totally get everything else, but this jaleo business has me flustered. How can I get over feeling like it's silly and fake when I do it?
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New Orleans
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Re: Jaleo without feeling like a weirdo?
Thu, December 13, 2007 - 3:23 AMI don't speak Spanish either, but I've learned a few words, and since other people do it, I say "ole" when I feel like it, that is, when the dance or the music has reached a certain point of intensity, that needs to be relieved with a "ole". I don't feel ridiculous, because other people do it, and after the first time when I felt a bit clumsy, it became more natural and very pleasant. I also like to encourage dancers with "guapa" for the girls or some other words for men, and musicians, because they told me how good it makes them feel. Since I like when everybody is happy do so. :)
You know, don't think too much about being ridiculous or not, just enjoy yourself, let yourself get into that fiesta spirit, and get wild. ;) -
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Re: Jaleo without feeling like a weirdo?
Thu, December 13, 2007 - 3:24 AMI meant "Since I like when everybody is happy, I do so." sorry
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Re: Jaleo without feeling like a weirdo?
Sun, December 16, 2007 - 1:18 PMBy the way, I think that it's a bit dumb from your director (sorry to say this) that you not doing jaleo is a problem. You should be allowed to be who you are. If you're more reserved, that's your right. I guess there are people who can do the jaleo for you... -
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Re: Jaleo without feeling like a weirdo?
Mon, December 17, 2007 - 6:15 PMThat's how I feel, as well. She also tells me to smile smile smile all the time and honestly that's not who I am and that's not how I dance. I figure I'll just be myself and she'll get over it eventually. -
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Re: Jaleo without feeling like a weirdo?
Sat, December 22, 2007 - 4:27 PMTry yelling Jello Puddin' pops instead! (-:
Dancers that smile too much big me...in any kind of dancing. -
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Re: Jaleo without feeling like a weirdo?
Sat, December 22, 2007 - 5:23 PMSmile?!?! While Dancing Flamenco!?!?!? Uh...maybe in a pageant! I always tell my dancers give me something other than a deer in the headlights look! That doesn't mean paste on a smile, just show me something more interesting.
And the yelling "ole", I'm hispanic and don't speak spanish but love saying 'ole'! Even when I'm singing, I say ole at the end of some songs! And in bellydance, I love to give vocal encouragement, a yip, a zaghareet, etc. I think with the word 'ole", it can feel kind of silly saying it because it is in cartoons, it's used as a stereotypical mexican cheer, etc.
Maybe if you play with the word itself--where do you accent it? O-le, or o-LE. How bout other spanish cheers: baila, guapa, etc. Learning this beautiful dance i'm sure felt foreign in your body at first and saying the spanish phrases will too but if you practice saying them just like the steps, I think you'll overcome this hurdle (but personally, it shouldn't be an issue! This teacher....wow! Talk bout being nit-picky!).
Ole sistah!
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