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Interview with Raquel Heredia, Flamenco DancerLa Nacional
239 West 14 Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY
www.alegrias.com
Call 917-667-2695 for reservations
Flamenco performance with tapas and drinks every Friday and Saturday night at 8:30 and 11 pm presented by ArtsFlamenco. Robert Abrams
November 4, 2005 I had a chance to chat with Raquel Heredia at Alegrias after her performance. Ms. Heredia is a visiting artist from Málaga, Spain. She has her own dance company called Amangue, and has performed with the companies of Juan Andrés Maya and Los Habichuelas. She gave a passionate and energetic performance accompanied by Raphael Brunn, Cristian Puig and Peter Basil. Robert Abrams: How did you start dancing? Raquel Heredia: When I was 15. My mother is a dancer, and my family is a traditional Gyspy family.
Robert Abrams: What styles of dance do you practice?
Raquel Heredia: Flamenco. Robert Abrams: What styles of dance do you enjoy? Raquel Heredia: I like Flamenco, Salsa, and Tap dancing. All of them. I love music and dance in general. Robert Abrams: Have you worked on any cross-style projects? Raquel Heredia: Yes. With modern dance. I have worked with modern dancers before. Robert Abrams: Who inspires you? Raquel Heredia: Juana Amaya. The queen of dance for me is Manuela Carrasco. Of women. They are both Flamenco dancing women and are both Gypsies. Robert Abrams: What in particular inspires you? Raquel Heredia: The pureness of their dance. They are very magisterial and dignified. The respect they have for the tradition that flows through their veins. Robert Abrams: What should people look for in your dancing? Raquel Heredia: Myself. The way that I dance is the way I am as a person. I am very pure as far as tradition goes. I am me. Robert Abrams: How does this translate into the movements? Raquel Heredia: I believe that I am very feminine, very much a woman, and I show my sweeter side, and my more masculine side as well. There is no way to put that into movement words. It is all improvised. What ever comes out. Robert Abrams: Tell me about your interaction with the musicians. Raquel Heredia: I try to have a lot of confidence in them so that they are confident in me. I make sure that they are a united team as one. I am in charge of everything on stage - The directions that the songs take, but I allows the musicians to have their own creative space.
Robert Abrams: What are you most proud of? What are your recent accomplishments?
Raquel Heredia: I am most proud of having been born to the family I am in. Of projects I have done, I am most proud of the small dance company I founded. And to have been able to work in the most important theatres in Spain as a soloist. Robert Abrams: What do you like about dancing at Alegrias? Raquel Heredia: The audience is very familiar to me. They receive me with a lot of warmth. Robert Abrams: What do you hope to accomplish next? Raquel Heredia: I want to take my dance company to Madrid. Robert Abrams: Is there anything else you would like to add? Raquel Heredia: I am thankful for the love of Flamenco that there is here in the United States, because it is really an art form to be deeply appreciated. 
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
Raquel Heredia
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams
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