Letter from the Editor:
root will be covering Flamenco dance and music in the coming weeks. For now, here is a little story of one Saturday in my hometown...
A brief ode to San Francisco, California.... we are spoiled here for sure. I woke up late yesterday, having overslept for Flamenco class. Still wanting to dance, I decided to attend an Afro-Hatian class (with live drums!) at a studio not more than 1/2 mile away. While waiting for the class to start I had a chance to catch up with old friends from MaraReggae, Brazilian dance, as their session was letting out.
In the evening I found myself at a Mexican bar, La Rondalla, drinking the best margaritas in town. Expecting the usual wandering Mariachis in groups of threes that make the rounds every weekend, I was floored when not one, not two or three, but TEN musicians in crisp white and gold Mariachi costume entered the bar and took a sharp right, disappearing into the restaurant.
Ages 14 to 45, they entered the near empty dining hall to serenade a couple who seemed to know all the songs by heart with them. At one point, during this busy and crowded Saturday bar rush, the bartender left her station to join the Mariachis in a few songs. The horns, guitars, violins and the "yeee hee hee!" between songs made us all feel like we were in Mexico for just a little while.
And this is not because its Cinco de Mayo weekend, this is just a Saturday night in San Francisco.
Marcy Mendelson
Editor/ Photographer
Comments