JULY 2006

PLACING GROUP ORDER FOR BATA DE COLAS NOW

This spring, I was in Seville studying bata de cola at Escuela Matilde Coral. This August I am offering a special Bata de Cola Workshop at Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy to introduce this wonderful, elegant skirt. Matilde says the woman that wears the Bata de Cola is the Queen of the theatre!!! I must say that I love swishing my big ruffles all over the place and you will too!

Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy is placing a group order from RITA BENZ, flamenco seamstress from Ontario who has studied with bata de cola makers in Seville. She has quoted MEDIUM and PROFESSIONAL bata skirts for $215 to $450+. This is EXTREMELY economical and you can now purchase a bata skirt without a huge investment within Canada. I have tried her professional, 7 ruffle skirt and it works very well, so I can endorse the maker.

Each Bata de Cola is custom made for each dancer, since everyone is a different height/weight/size. It takes between 1 and 4 weeks to make a skirt depending on complexity. You need to decide on your budget first and must choose between two levels:

1. MEDIUM LEVEL - Front of cola 2 top ruffles, 5-7 top ruffles on back length (depends on height of dancer and length of cola requested). $215 - $260 plus shipping and/or other options.

2. PROFESSIONAL LEVEL - The cola part is usually longer and more weighted with sewing techniques. 7-8 top ruffles. $260-$450+ plus shipping, depending on fabric selections etc.

I am recommending black skirts with different coloured trim (red, green, blue, yellow, orange, purple, white, etc). There are colour swatches at the studio. I feel this style is the most flexible, as we can all match in black and wear matching picos/flowers for group performances. To achieve economies of scale and obtain a good price, all students will order the following style of skirt:

BLACK

NARROW / SLIM STYLE

RUFFLES must have bias trim or no trim at all

UNDER RUFFLES are only for the professional model, these should be even with the top ruffle (flush)

UNDERSIDE OF COLA should be the same colour as your trim / under ruffles

To order a bata de cola, you must write a $150 deposit cheque to Rita Benz and fill out our two page measurement specification sheets. Please come to the studio to obtain.

WORKSHOP COURSE: Bata de Cola, Instructor: Kasandra

Description: The purpose of this workshop is to introduce technique for the bata de cola through a series of exercises in 12 compas. Secondarily, the class will also work on Caracoles choreography. Students should be comfortable dancing in 12 compas.

Date: August 21-25, 6:00 - 7:30pm

Cost: $160.50 for 5 classes (includes gst)

Drop In: $40 for 1 class (includes gst)

Preregistration is required. Payment is to be made by cash or cheque to Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy. To register for the workshop, please contact Kasandra at kasandra@mozaicoflamenco.com or call 604-671-9182.

REGULAR CLASS STARTING SEPTEMBER: Bata de Cola, Saturdays from 2:00-3:30pm, Instructor: Kasandra