What is a manifesto?
- A public declaration of policy
- Key issues, motives and commitments
- A statement of intentions
The FAHK Manifesto
- We are flamencoholics. We love flamenco and can never get enough of it. Therefore we endeavour to learn everything about flamenco, including cante, baile, palmas, jaleo, por fiesta, compás, palos, etc. In addition, we learn about and appreciate the masters who have come and gone before us.
- Flamenco begins with the cante. You must learn cante if you tell people you study flamenco.
- Learning flamenco is learning ALL aspects of flamenco, not just the dancing.
- Flamenco is an art form that takes years to develop. It is a craft that requires honing. “Winging it” is forbidden.
- Performing before you are ready is cheating the audience. Even the non-paying audience deserves your best, not your “winging it”.
- We learn so we may enjoy, appreciate and be educated, not perform.
- We have to recognize, acknowledge and appreciate our strengths and weaknesses and accept them as part of our wonderful selves. Nothing - no art form - is worth damaging and hurting ourselves for. We will not force ourselves to partake in activities that we are not capable of unless proper training is available.
- Knowledge is for sharing, not hogging.
- There is only one way to get better - study!
- Practice not only makes perfect. It makes you confident and knowledgeable.
- Flamenco is an art form that requires deep emotional connection, specific intention and purpose. Performing (singing, dancing or playing) without that is simply not flamenco.
- Flamenco is an art form that appreciates simplicity and complexity equally. It is not about doing fancy footwork. It’s about your execution. Doing something simply, correctly and with “aire" triumphs fancy but messy choreography any day.