Offering 3 flamenco dance workshops for the children at the Abraham Lincoln school

My heart is full! 🙏🏽❤️

On Wednesday 14th of February, after teaching at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, I also offered three flamenco dance lessons for the children of different grades of the school my grandad used to go.

It was really special. The first special thing was to realize that from the window of the room they gave me to teach, when they opened it, I could see the house where my grandad and family used to live for many years and where my mum and aunt lived the first months of their lives… in Calle Sol in Old San Juan (the translation would be “The Sun Street” - what a name, too!) (The balcony with the plants you can see in one of the pictures was their house).

I had 1st and 2nd grade, 4th and 5th and 3rd. Three groups in total, all different as always; and that’s the beauty… of adjusting constantly your plan to whatever you find in the group that day…! And also how the children are. My first time teaching children from Puerto Rico and, of course, a completely different reality and culture from what I am used to in Finland and in Spain…

And the children… were so receptive to dance and so excited! Also it was not an easy day as they had been celebrating the whole day the “Friendship day” as they call here Valentine’s Day and they had been the whole day eating sugar😅, getting presents from friends etc… (I also got lots of candy and presents from them). But I managed with my tools of being used to be a substitute teacher and putting limits from the very first moment😅

And how they move! My surprise was also to see the teenager boys so into it and moving with me all the time! I taught them a bit of a rumba choreography. It was beautiful. A completely different reality and children’s response/way of behaving/being from what I am used to in Finland…! And even in Spain…

Grateful to be able to experience this, during my crazy winter-escaping-back-to-my-roots-trip!

Special thanks to the principal of the school who proposed this activity the first day she met me exactly a week ago, and also to the other staff of the school, to be there helping with the music and logistic with the children.

G R A T E F U L