Check out Elena Lentini (if you can find video of her) or if you're in New York, take a class with her. Her Spanish flavored dance is amazing.
Also you might check out Faten Munger in Indianapolis. She sells dvds of flamenco for bellydancers.
Oh -- heck, get these from World Dance New York:
http://www.worlddancenewyork.com/catalog/flamenco
Inexpensive and wonderful dvds to give you a sense of flamenco and its music. Also check out Spanish folk dance. That should give you a wide range of ideas to play with.
Spanish fan or fan veil is a fun prop to play with, also.
Saida is actually from Argentina, and her dance has not a Spanish influence but an Argentinian influence (tango), plus ballet.
By the way, "Spanish" and "Latin" are not interchangeable terms.
When not describing the actual languages, "Spanish" usually refers to something that is from Spain, the country. Sometimes people use that word to refer to things from Spanish-speaking countries in general, but that's inaccurate. That would be like calling an American dance "English" just because people speak English in the US.
"Latin" generally refers to the countries of Latin America, at least in a context like this. Sure, Spain, Italy, etc are countries in Europe whose languages come from Latin, but when people talk about "Latin flavor" or "Latin culture" they usually are referring to Latin America, as opposed to Spain.
I am a little confused by this; do you mean that most pro flamenco dancers are self-taught? Having worked with flamenco musicians, dancers, and instructors in 3 different states, I have never met a professional that had not spent years in classes. Flamenco is a very demanding and challenging form (or set of forms) on its own. There are different types of flamenco, but I have not ever heard of a style where most of the pros had not studied formally.
I think, from what I can glean from Belly Love's posts, is that she's not looking to actually use Spanish dance movements exactly... she's just wanting to add a little Spanish *feel* to her belly dance.
Sharper movements and that violent passion in attitude, combined with perhaps a Spanish inspired variations on step movements or hip movements, with Spanish influenced music, a little Spanish flair in the costuming and you have a "taste" of Spanish dance in your belly dance.
I think if you want to use the costuming and the music and the attitude then I agree that you need to cross train in the styles that interest you and at least KNOW what you are doing, whether or not you choose to use the movement.
And sometimes when someone says "Japanese" they are referring to anyone with dark hair and squinty eyes from those countries in the far east, or anything that comes from a country that is full of dark-haired people with squinty eyes. That doesn't make them right. That only makes them ignorant.Sometimes when someone says, "Spanish" they are referring to something from Spanish speaking countries, not necessarily Spain.
In some contexts, it isn't incorrect. The obvious one is if you are talking about the language. They speak Spanish in Mexico, not "Mexican." But that's just the name of the language. If you are using "Spanish" as an adjective, you better be talking about something that is from Spain. If you are talking for example about a historic town somewhere in Latin America that retained its colonial architecture, it might be correct to refer to its architecture as Spanish. But in general, if you are talking about someone or something from a Spanish-speaking country other than Spain, you should not call it Spanish. If it's from many countries in Latin America you can call it Latin or Latin American, if it's from Cuba you can call it Cuban, if it's from Bolivia, Bolivian.This isn't necessarily incorrect either because there is a lot of Spanish influence and/or anscestry in these countries.
"Latin" these days generally refers to Latin America. I'm pretty sure this is what I said in my post.As far as Latin goes, it's often times a common term used for anything that comes from Latin America. If Flamenco is a common dance done in Latin America, people may refer to it as a Latin dance.
And sometimes when someone says "Japanese" they are referring to anyone with dark hair and squinty eyes from those countries in the far east, or anything that comes from a country that is full of dark-haired people with squinty eyes. That doesn't make them right. That only makes them ignorant.
In some contexts, it isn't incorrect. The obvious one is if you are talking about the language. They speak Spanish in Mexico, not "Mexican."
These countries have Spanish influence and ancestry but they also have their own identities. They have been independent for centuries and have their own cultures which are unique and different from Spain. People like to be given credit for what belongs to them, and no one wants to be overly associated with the identity of those who colonized them.
"Latin" these days generally refers to Latin America. I'm pretty sure this is what I said in my post.
Flamenco is not a dance common in Latin America, it's a dance from Spain. This is exactly the reason I am being picky about terms. If they are not being used accurately, people will get confused.
I understand that Flamenco is a Spanish dance, but there is a HUGE Spanish influence/anscestry in Latin America and every single person I know who dances Flamenco is from Latin America... mostly Mexican. Yes, there are other influences/anscestries but Spanish is one of the most prominent. I have a lot of Mexican friends and many of them know Flamenco or have family that does (I know this 'cause I was going to take classes a few years ago). I do not have a single Caucasion American friend who knows Flamenco. My point is, that if a dance is common amongst a group of people, no matter where it originated from, that group of people is going to be associated with the dance.
If you plan to do fusion and make your own choreographies, I would highly reccommend you to cross-train in that style.
So, I feel much better knowing that I won't have to do years of hardcore Flamenco training along with belly dance just to give my dance a little flavor
But in general, if you are talking about someone or something from a Spanish-speaking country other than Spain, you should not call it Spanish. If it's from many countries in Latin America you can call it Latin or Latin American, if it's from Cuba you can call it Cuban, if it's from Bolivia, Bolivian.
These countries have Spanish influence and ancestry but they also have their own identities. They have been independent for centuries and have their own cultures which are unique and different from Spain. People like to be given credit for what belongs to them, and no one wants to be overly associated with the identity of those who colonized them.
the term "Spanish" is to some Latin Americans a mark of a higher social class and to be referred to as "Spanish" is a compliment. I only have experience with populations in my area from Chile and El Salvador, but many of the upwardly-mobile women consider themselves "Spanish" -- almost as if they were descendants of the Spanish settlers, whether they actually are or not. Interestingly enough, they will often refer to "lower class" and lowest social caste men as "Indians."
So I just watched this and thought I should share here.
YouTube - Bozenka in Eilat festival 2010 in Israel
At the beginning of the second song she does a really nice fusion with flamenco.