MAYA GRACIA PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy and Mission

Dances of Spain, (especially Flamenco) are some of the most virtuosic, passionate, exciting, and powerful dance forms in the world. Flamenco Dance incorporates unique rhythms (a fusion of influences from the Celtic, Jewish, Moorish, Byzantine Ecclesiastical, Egyptian, Latin, Pakistani and Indian music forms) complex foot patterns and fluid body movements. Classical Dances include sophisticated choreography on classical music performed by renowned Spanish composers such as Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, Granados, and Turina. Also known as Estilización, this style of dance has a base in Ballet and includes the playing of castanets. Spanish dances require focus, dedication, practice and strength-building in the learning process. Gracia has developed a dynamic teaching format and methodology that makes this dance form a pleasure to learn for any student.

Gracia’s approach to teaching Flamenco dance is artistic and authentic to the academies in Spain. The student will learn in a profound way rather than experience “work- out” movements that merely mimic the dance form (such as those offered in exercise studios, competitive dance sport and gyms). Gracia approaches Spanish dance as a lifestyle (much like it is in Spain) and teaches positive lifestyle behaviors along with the dance. She believes that Spanish dance is for all age groups and physical abilities. It is welcoming to all body types and even celebrates curvier physiques. Gracia encourages students to build better self-esteem by helping them find their own unique dance talents (everybody has at least one!) and best body features. She teaches the student to capitalize on those positive attributes which help build more self-confidence in the dance room. Gracia slows down technique instruction to fully build strength and understanding. In each class, she incorporates the promotion of leadership/values, Lady's/Gentlemen's etiquette, anatomy recognition, injury prevention, breathing techniques and the discipline/focus techniques of martial arts. Because Spanish Dance is a High Art, Gracia discourages competition allowing true autonomous virtuosity to foster in each student.

Flamenco, Classical Ballet, Regional Folk and Castanets classes are filled with passion, promote emotional expression and are wonderful at reducing daily stress. Many students experience better mind clarity, memory retention, discipline and concentration from learning this dance form because the methodology also strengthens the logical mind with the use of physics and simple mathematics. Gracia offers a positive, festive learning atmosphere where supportive dance room community is featured. Students will learn to dance to authentic, lively Flamenco and soulful Spanish Classical music, and are invited to experience Flamenco fashion by attending class in optional semi-costume. …..Olé!

"The sky is your only limit in achieving your highest dance potential" - Gracia

The Gracia Art Dance Organization Mission is to:

produce new works; promote intellectual and moral awareness in; educate in execution, technique and history; increase cultural value of; preserve and conserve existing works in the genres of:

•Traditional- Classical- Sacred Music and Dances of Spain and other Latin Cultures* and

•Traditional, Folkloric, and Sacred Fine Art of Spain and other Latin Cultures*

*Latin American Culture is the formal or informal expression of the peoples of Latin America, and includes both high culture (or high art), popular culture (music, folk art, dance) and a prevalent participation in or customary practice of the Catholic religion. Definitions of Latin America can vary but from a cultural perspective, Latin America generally includes those parts of the Americas where Spanish, French, or Portuguese currently prevail. This includes Mexico, Cuba, some of the Caribbean and most of Central and South America. There is also an important Latin American cultural presence in the United States (e.g. California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, Nevada, Philadelphia, DC, Massachusetts and New Hampshire - with a population¹ of 33,000 ).

The richness of Latin American culture is the product of many influences, including:

Pre-Columbian cultures, whose importance is today particularly notable in countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.
European colonial culture, owing to the region's history of colonization by Spain, Portugal, and France. European influence is particularly marked in so-called high culture, such as painting and music. Moreover, this imperial history left an enduring mark of their influence in their languages, which are spoken throughout Central (including the Caribbean), South and North America (Mexico and many parts of the United States).
Nineteenth and twentieth-century immigration (e.g. from Italy, Germany, and Eastern Europe) also transformed countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil (particularly the southeast and southern regions), Chile and Venezuela.

This highly dimensional cultural heritage is called "Latin" or "Latino" in the United States. We would also like to include the meaning outside of the U.S., where in many languages (especially romance ones), "Latino" simply means "Latin", referring to cultures and peoples that can trace their heritage back to the ancient Roman Empire.

¹Pew Hispanic Center Report 2007

Gracia is the Spanish term for the English word Grace. The words are derived from the Latin word gratus, which had meanings such as "pleasing," "beloved," "agreeable" and "favorable." These two words have a wide range of meanings that overlap. In both languages, they can have these meanings:

Favor, goodwill, kindness, friendship; influence; gratitude; thanks (pl.); Graces.
The ability to act or move in an elegant way.
A personal quality that makes a person seem pleasant or appealing to others.
A woman's first name; A surname; A district of Barcelona (Spain)