I should probably be in Italy getting my beach fractured finger fixed (Australia has a medicare deal) but I just landed in Spain. It’s the 4th annual Tap On Barcelona Festival and having had attended the previous three, I couldn’t bear to miss it. The finger will have to wait.
Eased through a flight from Paris (sponsored by Glenn Wood Tap) and to Placa Catalunia then an easy stroll to Franco’s flat and a less easy haul up the narrow staircase (forgot that lifts are rare in Barcelona flats- did I really need to bring 4 pairs of tap shoes?). Classes start tomorrow morning so after coffee near the markets with Franco and his Russian and Spanish house mates, I unpack while watching youtube videos to help me decide which classes to take.
I’m thinking either impro or flash technique, a class with Maud Arnold (Chloe’s sister) then Jason Janas. Guillem Alonso is also here and Rosa Font, Jérémy Champagne… and I will def take Roxane Butterfly’s weekend masterclasses. Though not sure what levels. I like taking advance classes but one after another can be dizzying in not the best sense. Last year, Jason Samuel Smith’s advance class was after 4 and a half hours of tap for the day and by the time it began, I couldn’t retain a shuffle ball change with the overload. Back in Sydney there is now a famous ’90 dollar step’ from a certain tapper who spent 90 bucks on two masterclasses to only remember one step (‘the 90 dollar step’)…
Dine with Franco and the Russian and disuss the size of Russia and Franco’s new business venture- Barn Around . Am now in bed after a traditional Russian night cap and watching a last clip for the day- Jason Janas at the DC Tap Fest… Better push some zeds so I can have a hope of keeping up!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DllnRhaOCG4&NR=1[/youtube]
