Here’s a question we’ve received a couple of times at school shows: are you family/related? Or the title of this post, which we got after the show in Kilmarnock, VA. I laughed a bit at that question, but it really makes sense–we spend so much time together we are a bit like a family and that surely comes across in our performances.

During the fin de fiesta in the show yesterday, I really realized that we’re quite a bit like a family on tour. Not just because we pick our noses and fart in front of each other (there’s a tour secret for you), but we’re like a family in that we did not choose each other, we’re with each other 24/7 and we’ve somehow found a way to love, care about, tease, put up with, and support each other.

There was a great energy last night as we danced our patadas, and I really felt like we were performing flamenco somewhere between where flamenco was originally created (as a personal expression among family members) and the theater–a place that without that energetic and personal expression would feel cold and sterile. It’s our job to support one another on stage, and it’s nice that we are able to do so offstage as well. I particularly enjoy seeing how everyone’s patadas vary day by day and how we play off each other’s energy differently each day.
One dancer taking a nap on another dancer’s shoulder.

 

Tour brings a lot of high stress situations and we learn a lot about ourselves and our compañeros, both good qualities and bad qualities. I know on a personal level, being pushed to my limits has taught me a lot about myself and characteristics about myself I can improve and also the characteristics that really make me me. 
Enjoying a drink after a show with Carlos.
Sometimes we drive each other crazy, sometimes we really need a hug from each other, and sometimes we make each other laugh until we cry–like yesterday when Carlos stole put on Grace’s sunglasses and did an impression of her, right in front of her. We’re a team and we’re stuck with each other whether we like it or not, at least for another week.
An impromptu guitar lesson; the dancers and singer
are playing the guitars while the real guitarist dances.