Published in the Winter 2004/2005 401 Richmond Update
If you have never ventured down to the basement here at 401 Richmond – it’s a bit of a maze made even more labyrinthine by the absence of windows – there are many special treasures to be discovered, including The Academy of Spanish Dance. When we met with Esmeralda Enrique, the Artistic Director of Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company and Executive Director of The Academy of Spanish Dance, the dance studio was between classes and abnormally quiet. Usually the space is filled with the sound of staccato stomping and the melodic Spanish guitar as dancers learn the art of flamenco and classical Spanish dance. In fact, this is the reason The Academy ended up in the basement.
In 1996 The Academy had been given thirty days notice to vacate their previous studio space outside 401 Richmond . In a mad rush to find another space Esmeralda’s husband, Sal (?), was lured into 401 Richmond by the “For Lease” signs. He met with Margie who said, “first you have to come down here with all your music and dancers and make as much noise as possible, and if nobody complains then you’re in.” Esmeralda took Margie up on her offer and there wasn't a single complaint so she promptly staked out a space in the vast basement, which was almost completely vacant at the time, and began building the studio. In the now almost nine years that The Academy has been at 401, the building has transformed from what Esmeralda refers to as a “ghost town” to the vibrant space it is today. But Esmeralda’s story extends far beyond life at 401.
“I started dancing when I was about 7 or 8 years old in Texas . My mom would send us to dance classes, which were free at a community centre. We learned Mexican dancing and Spanish dancing. Then she would gather up all the kids and say ‘okay, now that you know all these dances why don’t you do a show for us.’ You know how kids are, you always want to do shows for your parents but she would make it a bit more formal and invite the neighbourhood to come and watch.” Esmeralda’s mother would make costumes and a stage for the performances which included Esmeralda’s sisters, cousins and other neighbourhood kids. Esmeralda’s mother was never a dancer but as an actress, writer and storyteller she provided a creative inspiration that clearly influenced Esmeralda.
After her Texan backyard debut Esmeralda continued to study dance through school and at the age of 15 she and her older sister [?] were asked to join the Jose Greco Dance Company. Despite Esmeralda’s success in America she longed to study in Spain , the home of flamenco, so when the opportunity presented itself she jumped at it. Esmeralda stayed in Spain for five years, “then I was offered the chance to come to Canada , which I never really wanted to do. It wasn’t the first time I had been offered work in Canada , but it wasn’t something that really appealed to me because I thought I knew North America ” Esmeralda says with a smile. Soon after her visit to Canada , Toronto became home to Esmeralda and her new husband. She began teaching classes and by 1982 she was established enough to open her own studio and start a dance company.
The Academy is now considered one of the premier flamenco dance studios in Canada , its reputation built not only upon Esmeralda’s talent but her awareness of the value of Spanish traditions and teachers to the process of learning. Going to study in Spain is not economically viable for all dancers, “so bring Spain here and make it more affordable for students who want to study with the most avant garde teachers, as well as the teachers who maintain the history of flamenco. This mixture of teachers is what I think has helped maintain the school and the company as a vibrant force in this genre.”
Teaching continues to inspire Esmeralda. “My two favourites are the beginners and the advanced. Beginners, because I want to set them on the right foot, and advanced because I can do anything with them. I teach all the levels in between but there’s something about opening the door to a person who has never danced flamenco before and just seeing how that door leads a person to so many different areas – to learn about history, to learn about culture, to learn language and food. Plus, they’re involved with other people who are here learning the same thing, so many lasting friendships have started here.”
Esmeralda and her dance company are presently preparing for their performance of Queen of the Gypsies: A Tribute to Carmen Amaya (Nov. 3 – 7). This provides Esmeralda the rare opportunity to celebrate an “icon for all flamenco artists; singers, dancers and musicians” but also a personal hero. “Carmen Amaya broke through many barriers of culture and social standards. Before her, female dancers were very pretty and had a lot of artistry in the upper body but very little footwork, they left that for the men. Carmen Amaya was a woman impatient to live her life, which unfortunately was cut very short, and I believe she knew she may not have long so she thought, if I’m going to be a dancer, I want to DANCE, I don’t want to be held back. She did footwork faster and louder and stronger than any man did. She put on a man’s costume and looked better in it than many men did. She put men to shame.” She could also dance with an exquisite femininity, dressed in the traditional “batalacola” (dress with a long train), showing her range and expressive flexibility.
Like Carmen Amaya we’re sure that Esmeralda and her Spanish Dance Company will continue to inspire us with their riveting performances and passion for dance.
You can visit The Academy of Spanish Dance during 401 Richmond ’s Holiday Marketplace from Thurs. Dec. 9 to Sun. Dec. 12.
Esmeralda Enrique performing in Luna Nueva. Photo: Hamid Karimi.
