In Memoriam: La Faraona

It has been my greatest honor and joy to have the remarkable Gitana dancer from Sevilla, Pilar "La Faraona" be my friend and a very significant person in my life.

She was the daughter of my mentor Maestro "El Farruco." Pilar was one of the few professional flamenco dancers that maintained into the 21st century the original pure feminine gypsy style of dancing flamenco with no footwork (baile puro de mujer) which is something really in danger of extinction these days.

This is a tradition I am passing down in my Spanish Gypsy Skirt Dance Training. (http://puelalunaris.com/gst/).

"La Faraona" is gone and sorely missed but we can keep the tradition alive!!

Ole la Faraona! In the video below we can see authentic and traditional Spanish Gypsy feminine Flamenco dancing.

As you can observe there is no taconeo (footwork). In feminine flamenco is dance with our hips and arms and skirt, the footwork in the original flamenco was reserved for men.

Another thing I love about watching La Faraona dance is the realization that to be an awesome professional dancer you don't have to look like a spaghetti.

What a liberation for women to know that all sizes are beautiful!

Please tell me: What is your impression? How would you compare this type of traditional, feminine Gypsy Flamenco dancing with the machine-gun type of Flamenco that is mostly presented on stages worldwide these days?