Earlier this year I was invited to give a TEDx talk on flamenco. For anyone unfamiliar with TED, here is their mission statement: “TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues [and even flamenco!] — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.”

There’s so much I would love to say about flamenco, but 18 minutes is a pretty short amount of time. In a lot of ways, the dance itself says more than talking about it, so I did a little of both. Of all the things that are most important to me with regards to flamenco, the art form’s capacity to transmit feelings is the number one reason I dedicate my time to flamenco. And its complexity not only in communicating to an audience, but also the intricacies between the music and dance makes flamenco a unique art form.

Dance is often a misunderstood or undervalued art form. I love to share my passion for flamenco by helping a wider audience understand its complexities and better appreciate it.

A special thank you to Gabriel Osuna for the musical accompaniment and to the Fulbright Association for inviting me to speak!

Here’s the talk, enjoy!