Wakana Okamoto: A 2022 BGFLAMENCO Interview
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《What is your name, and how old were you at the time of the 2022 interview?》
Wakana Okamoto
48 at the time of the 2022 interview.
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《How did you get into flamenco, and how long had you been learning it?》
I was learning belly dance,
but somehow, along the way, I ended up switching to flamenco.
I had never even seen flamenco before I started taking lessons, and I can't remember what made me start…
Even so, by the time of this interview, I had kept learning it for about 11 years.
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《How long had you been attending BGFLAMENCO?》
7 years at the time of the 2022 interview.
I'd reached Platinum status, hehe!
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《Which BGFLAMENCO events had you performed in?》
Student showcases.
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《What made you start attending BGFLAMENCO?》
I wanted to learn from someone from Spain.
I think it was around three years after I had started learning at another school.
I thought, “Hmm? Something about what I'm doing doesn't feel quite right.”
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《What did you like about BGFLAMENCO?》
I liked the group choreography that Beni created for our student showcases.
Everyone had their own role, so rather than just a student showcase,
it felt as though we were all creating a work together. That was so much fun.
There were lots of options.
There were various events, and I could choose for myself whether or not to take part.
That may sound like a given, but in my experience, choosing not to participate can be difficult at a small school.
They regularly brought guitarists and flamenco singers into the lessons.
It was easy to rent the studio.
And the people in my class got along well.
They would share a toast with me after class.
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《Which flamenco style were you studying?》
La Caña.
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《How would you like to approach dance from now on, and what are your dreams for the future?》
I want to be able to dance with all my strength, as though I'm drawing out everything I have inside.
I want my own self to be truly present in that dancing.
Well, I hope I can keep enjoying it for a long time.
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