Federico and Marianna Mejia preside over a burgeoning Flamenco community in their Santa Cruz Mountain retreat.

by maureen davidson

The long studio mirror tells the story in wide angle. Four women, skirts softly flaring below torsos stretched up as if on wires, shoulders back, chests open offering the heart, arms reaching out powerfully in a graceful choreographed curve, fingers cascading on spiraling wrists — all in step, each step a beat, each beat a note echoed in the strings of the three guitarists. Federico Mejia beats on the cajon: It's called compás — the complex, formal but driving rhythm that's the essence of in all its forms — and it's the energy that hums throughout the room.

The eyes of the dancers are fixed on the mirror before them. In the foreground is Marianna, Federico's wife, in a long sweater and low neckline, ribboned skirt above leggings atop red suede dance pumps with Cuban heels and black flamed toes. Marianna and the music are one, forceful, complexly beautiful, experienced, full of humanity.

(leer +) [vía santacruz sentinel]

tags: flamenco, baile, cante, flamenca