EXPRESSIVE FLAMENCO

An emerging expressive arts-based practice to help individuals connect with their authentic self.

Expressive Flamenco© theory and praxis was developed by Laura Sánchez through a qualitative auto-ethnographic arts based research, which explores applications of flamenco for its inherent psycho-somatic therapeutic capacities. She asserts the applied practice of flamenco (in its broadest definition), when combined with other expressive arts practices, can have therapeutic benefits; including (but not limited to) psycho-social, spiritual, and aesthetic connection to the individual’s unconscious.

This holistic, embodied approach was born of an effort to heal a personal trauma that manifested a severe somatic condition in the body. It was because of my personal practice of the combination of flamenco with expressive arts (for holistic healing) that the core concept of “Expressive Flamenco” was born. Expressive Flamenco aims to stretch traditional flamenco aesthetics into new applied health territories by combining it with other expressive arts.

This therapeutic dance practice allows the prescribed movements of flamenco dance to attune your attention inward with the goal of connecting with your authentic self, what I metaphorically understand as “duende”. Once this connection occurs individuals can express their true essence while finding inner peace, wisdom, truth, compassion, gratitude and relaxation (as I have).

In this therapeutic dance practice the mind, body and spirit coordinate their attunement like an ecosystem, in relationship to one another. This harmony calls forth the “duende”, which provides the freedom and permission to be authentic and grow with self-knowledge into holistic wellbeing reminding us of our inner power.

The core essence of Expressive Flamenco is present in all our traditional Flamenco Classes where the main goal is to help individuals connect with their bodies, develop self-stem and find their unique way to express themselves through flamenco dance.

To read full article about EXPRESSIVE FLAMENCO click here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10465-020-09339-2

                        

This auto-ethnographic research started in 2017 and has been presented at several national and international conferences by Laura Sánchez.

PAST EXPRESSIVE FLAMENCO PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS

Conferences:

• 2019

  • Expressive Flamenco© for Communication, Connection and Wellbeing. Expressive Therapies Summit NYC 2019.
  • Building Connections through Expressive Flamenco©. American Dance Therapy Association 2019 Conference (ADTDA), Miami, FL.
  • Connect with your inner “duende”, your authentic self. International Expressive Arts Therapies Association (IEATA) 2019 Conference. Berkeley, CA.
  • Expressive Flamenco©: Finding my inner truth, my “duende”. ECARTE (European Consortium for Arts Therapies Education). Madrid, Spain
  • Connect with your inner Dancer through Expressive Flamenco ©. Experiential Workshop at Emerging Pathways in Somatic Movement and Dance Education Conference. NDEO in collaboration with the International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association (ISMETA)
  • Find your inner voice through Expressive Flamenco. Experiential workshops at Festival of the Creative Arts at Brandeis University. Waltham, MA.
  • Building Connections with oneself and others. Day of Scholars at Lesley University. Cambridge, MA.
  • Expressive Flamenco©: Dance with your inner self, your “Duende”. 2019 Annual New England Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association Conference: Dancing Along the Continuum:  Dance/Movement Therapy and Social Action News!
• 2018
  • Connect with your inner self, your “duende”. New England American Dance Therapy Association Conference 2018, Cambridge, MA.
  • Healing possibilities with the art of Flamenco. Community of Scholars Day, Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Workshops:

• 2019

  • Expressive Flamenco, new emerging theory and practice. Presented at
    • Theories and Practices of Dance Movement Therapy the Dance Movement Therapy Master at Lesley University. Cambridge, MA
    • Group Process in Dance Movement Therapy Class at the Dance Movement Therapy Master at Lesley University. Cambridge, MA
    • Principles and Practices of Expressive Arts Therapies at the Expressive Therapies Master at Lesley University, Cambridge, MA.

• 2018

  • Dance to Express, connect with your inner dancer . Summer Festival at Dance Complex. Cambridge, MA.

Laura Sánchez has been leading Expressive Flamenco classes at Dance Complex since 2017 with the mission to help individuals connect with their bodies, develop self-stem and find their unique way to express themselves through flamenco dance.

UPCOMING EXPRESSIVE FLAMENCO WORKSHOPS – PRESENTATIONS

• April 18th: Conference: 2nd Annual Conference on Trauma and Embodiment. 

Healing a traumatized body through Expressive Flamenco©: Expressive Flamenco© is an emerging expressive arts practice that explores holistic healing possibilities within the art of Flamenco. This therapeutic dance practice allows the prescribed movements of flamenco dance to attune your attention inward with the goal of connecting with your authentic self. This holistic, embodied approach was born of an effort to heal a personal trauma that manifested a severe somatic condition in the body. The personal journey of healing a body in stress will be shared and attendees of this workshop will be guided in the applied practice of Expressive Flamenco© to connect with your true self in order to grow in self-realization, wholeness, and wellbeing. Workshop will include an experiential component. Presenter, Laura Sanchez

At Lesley University, Cambridge.MA

BRING EXPRESSIVE FLAMENCO TO YOUR CENTER or CONFERENCE

Participants will get detailed information about the expressive arts based method utilized and participate in a collective experiential of the healing power of Expressive Flamenco, which will combine dance with multiple arts based elements to create the relational freedom to be your true self in order to grow in self realization, wholeness and wellbeing. In a transnational context, this inclusive arts based practice provides the opportunity for individuals to experience themselves intersectionality while engaging in cross culturally enriched environment that have therapeutic benefits on multiple levels. 

We can adapt our Expressive Flamenco experiential to the needs of your audience.

 

More info about classes!