Flamenco 4 Kids!™

Come enjoy flamenco rhythm, music, and dance classes and performance opportunities for children ages 4-12 the greater Washington, D.C. area. Boys and girls welcome! ¡Olé! A Bailar!

ALL NEW KIDS & ADULT CLASSES STARTING SEPT 2023 ➜ ENROLLMENT INFO (PDF)

Why Flamenco 4 Kids!™ is great for kids

At any age Flamenco is a lot more than just dance. But for young children it can be a unique outlet for self expression. Magdalena's classes carefully balance discipline with lots of fun and character development.

Flamenco 4 Kids!™ strives to introduce children to the three C's: confidence, cooperation, and comradery. The final steps in each class are met with a triumphant shout from the group, “olé!”

Children with no dance or music background are welcome. ¡Se habla español!

Flamenco 4 Kids!™ for skill-building

Magdalena uses an organic system of ear training to build age-appropriate skills in movement and musicianship.

Parents peeking in might see their little one learning to stand tall and proud like royalty, stomping in unison with classmates like a stampede of horses, or twirling in circles, opening and rotating her hands like a blossoming flower.

Rhythm and dance are cleverly intertwined as children accompany traditional music from Andalucía by moving their bodies from head to toe.

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Flamenco 4 Kids!™ enriches the lives of our children

With so many layers of complexity the smallest "A-HA" in Flamenco is a gigantic milestone!

Time in class is mostly reserved for play, process, and imagination. Instead of an actual step, students may learn a new way to translate a particular feeling into a movement. With young children a 30-second phrase can be the primary building block for an entire week's lesson!

In this way, Flamenco is an ideal art form to get our little ones thinking with their brains and feeling with their hearts!

Flamenco 4 Kids!™ teaches teamwork and problem solving

That one 30-second snapshot can be exposure to elements of musical theater, dance, improvisation, music theory, rhythm ... even MATH! We think art appreciation is as important to understanding Flamenco as balance and coordination.

But that's not all. Students learn lots of Spanish and about the culture of Andalucía. They collaborate with their classmates to MAKE ART HAPPEN, because Flamenco needs Baile, Musica, y Compás to be complete.

Flamenco For Kids™ - ARAÑA

Spider

Pre-Schoolers, Ages 3-4

Introducing the art of Flamenco through imaginative play, rhythm and ear training. Students learn basic vocabulary while dancing to F4K favorites like Mi Cuerpo Hace Musica and Araña Pequeñita. ¡Spanish Dance and Play . . . Olé!

Flamenco For Kids™ - ORUGA

LEVEL 1 A Caterpillar
Ages 4-6

Continuing to build age-appropriate skills in movement and musicianship, students at this level start exploring all basic elements of Flamenco technique including marcaje (arms, hands, coordination), colocación (body placement / posture) taconeo (footwork), and palmas (hand clapping). CASTAÑUELAS (castanets) are slowly incorporated into lessons, beneficial not only for musicality but for developing the three Cs - collaboration, cooperation, and confidence!

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Flamenco For Kids™ - MARIPOSA

LEVEL 1 B Butterfly
Ages 5-7

Take a peek into this class and you may see your little dancers learning to stand proud like royalty, stomping their feet in unison like a stampede of horses, or twirling in circles as they open and rotate their hands like a blossoming flower. Performing opportunities available! Like the butterfly recently emerged from its cocoon, at this level Mariposas find their wings and are encouraged to soar with self expression. Final dance steps are met with a triumphant shout from the group . . . "olé!"

Flamenco For Kids™ - MARIQUITA

LEVEL 2 Ladybug

Ages 7-10
Students at this level are encouraged to move beyond the steps and into considerations of style and the importance of character development. Technique primarily focuses on the coordination -and strengthening -of upper and lower body. Tangos, Rumba and Fandangos are the preferred songs for this group and a lot of attention is given to the compás (rhythmic structure) in preparation for advanced study.

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Flamenco For Kids™ - SALTAMONTES

LEVEL 3 Grasshoppers
Ages 10-12
This level class places a special emphasis on mastering the often complex connection between music and dance in Flamenco. Students learn how to accompany each other on stage and in the studio by providing palmas (percussive hand clapping), jaleos (rhythmic shouts of encouragement), and even by learning some basic cante (song). Depending on the time of year, lessons may focus exclusively on repertory in preparation for performances. Currently our Saltamontes are dancing Sevillanas and Alegrías con Abanico (with fan). Each student works hard to develop her unique voice and may also start to dance solos. Workshops, special guest artists, and live musical accompaniment may be offered.

READY TO ENROLL? ➜ SCHEDULE & ENROLLMENT INFO (PDF)

Magdalena’s flamenco class is amazing. My 4 year old looks forward to it every week. It is just so wonderful to see a child discover a passion. Magdalena achieves the perfect balance between fun and method. The kids are attentive and perfect their dance skills but you can tell that they are also having a playful time. And the fact that there are performance opportunities during the year is a lot of fun so kids can work toward showing their new talents to an audience.

Carine R.
Washington, D.C.