Dance group spices it up

Flamenco group to perform tonight at Warner

Flamenco, the intense, heel-pounding, skirt-swirling dance of the gypsies, is coming to Oberlin. Tonight, the dance group known as Flamenco Fire will be performing at Warner Main Studio. This is the third year they have performed at Oberlin, but promises to be the best yet. Sponsored by PRESCHO (Program for Hispanic Studies in Cordoba, Spain) and the Department of Theater and Dance, Flamenco Fire is brought to Oberlin during the annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage month.

Directed by Sandra Bohl, the group comes from Cleveland, and Esmerelda Martinez, professor of Spanish and director of Spanish House, promised, "They really are quite good."

Flamenco is an exciting dance that has its roots in the Arabian and Gypsy cultures. While mostly danced in Spain now, the originators of the dance were not Spanish. However, the dance has since been incorporated into Spanish culture.

In flamenco, the dancers are the percussionists, keeping time and setting the tempo for the guitarists with their clapping, castanets and clicking heels. It is a performance dance, with set positions and intricate choreography. The performance will undoubtedly be the only one of its kind this year, and most definitely worth the $1 donation.

The first year Flamenco Fire came to Oberlin, only one dancer performed at Spanish House. She drew a huge crowd, so the next year she brought another dancer and the performance was held at Warner. This year, there will be three dancers, a guitarist and a singer. Not only will they dance, but they will provide background and cultural information, to give a better sense of where the dance comes from and what it signifies.

In addition to this dance performance, Spanish House plans to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a film series, performances and guest lecturers. All this is done to emphasize Hispanic culture and bring it out. Martinez said, "It is our mission to educate Oberlin, the school and town about Hispanic culture."

Joaqu’n Espinoza Goodman, a first-year resident of Spanish House, said, "There needs to be much more education in mainstream America to get rid of the many stereotypes of Hispanics and also to broaden the concept of what Hispanic is. One of the main goals of Hispanic Heritage

Future events planned by Spanish House include films and a lecture by former Oberlin professor Miguel Bretos, who is now Counsel to the Secretary for Community Affairs and Special Projects of the Smithsonian Museum.

The Flamenco Fire Group performs tonight at Warner Main Space at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $1. This event is one of many celebratory efforts for the on-going Hispanic Heritage Month.