Communications Associate, Kiersten Resch, recently interviewed beloved Dance Complex Flamenco instructor, Yosi Karahashi, to learn more about her and her experience at the Dance Complex. Yosi left Japan to fulfill her dream of studying flamenco, studied in Spain for 16 years, and after began her professional career performing in Spain, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, France, Cyprus, and Canada. Yosi moved to Boston in 2012 and after six years of dancing at The Dance Complex, you can find Yosi teaching here Monday through Friday.
Interview has been condensed and edited for clarity
Q: What influenced you to move to Boston?
A: Moving to Boston changed my life. I had been living in Madrid, Spain, for 17 years and I had been having a very busy life working at a travel agency, along with performing and teaching flamenco. I was living with my boyfriend and when his company offered him to move to Boston, he wanted me to come with him: we had to make a big decision. I was afraid to lose what I had, and wondered if there was flamenco in Boston: my flamenco friends knew that I was very worried about the new life in Boston. My boyfriend and I got married then went to Boston together. If we were still in Madrid, our life would be very different from what it is now. Coming to Boston was a good chance for us to think about our future and having a family.
Q: When was your first visit to the Dance Complex?
A: One day, one of my flamenco friends told me that they had found a flamenco dancer based in Boston. Amor de Dios, the legendary flamenco school, is a place where many dancers come from different places. This is where I met her and heard about the Dance Complex from her.
Two days after arriving to Boston in December of 2012, while still living in a hotel before finding our new place to live, I visited The Dance Complex. The woman, who later became my friend, welcomed me warmly and I started to practice at studio 4. After finishing my first rehearsal at the Dance Complex, I made another booking request.
In 2012, we didn’t use Mindbody online yet and every day the work study person called me to confirm the requested space. I enjoyed receiving the phone calls and talking because, at the time, I didn’t know anybody so this was a good chance to talk with someone other than my husband!
Since I started to come to The Dance Complex everyday, I began to start my flamenco life in Boston like what it was in Madrid.
I have told you a lot and I have more things to share – the Dance Complex is very special place to me!
Q: What can you tell us about your journey to start teaching for The Dance Complex?
A: The teacher who was teaching a flamenco kids class at the Dance Complex asked to me to take over her class, so I started the Youth Family Flamenco Class. My daughter was 1 year old at the time and she was always there in my class. Since I started to have a Youth Family Flamenco Class, most of the original students are still taking the class. They have seen my daughter grow up and now she is 5 years old and she is dancing with us.
Q: What have your experiences been like participating in The Festival of Us, You, We & Them?
A: The Festival of Us, You, We & Them is a chance for teaching and dancing on Mass ave. and for many people who are walking around to watch us dance, and even dance with us. It is a fun event to share the art of dance with all and thus, is supporting the art and giving a great influence for the city of Cambridge. The city of Cambridge is becoming known as a city of art and dance. We have great events all around Cambridge and The Festival of Us, You, We, & Them at The Dance Complex is one of them.
Q: What have your experiences been like participating in the Teaching Artists and Student Concert?
A: My students are always learning and trying to do their best and I like to support them by finding a place where they can perform. Because I believe performing on the stage in front of a real audience is the true way to display what they have learnt after so much effort. The Dance Complex has a great theater space and performing is a way of making my students feel like real artists.
Q: How else are you involved in the Dance Complex?
A: Other than coming here for rehearsing and having classes, I LOVE to be involved in festivals, teaching artist performances, PARK(ing) Day, and any event they have bringing flamenco. Also, during the summer when The Dance Complex was closed for building maintenance, we were there. I remember holding my daughter Monica as I painted the line for the stairs in the theater, or studio 1. This year, I made the curtain of the studio 7 and Monica helped me with it!
Q: What do you believe is special about The Dance Complex?
A: Over the past few years, thanks to the director of the Dance Complex, Peter DiMuro, and all of the Dance Complex staff, the Dance Complex has become one of the most important art and movement communities in Cambridge. It has many interesting events and performances, and so many different dances happen here.
Personally, the staff has always welcomed us warmly, Peter DiMuro is Monica’s best friend and Jayne Murphy is her second mother. This building is a warm place that for us, is very special and unique.
Q: What can you tell us about the Flamenco community in and around Boston?
A: Flamenco is a Spanish art form and there are many flamenco schools in Spain and people come from all over the world to learn flamenco to south part of Spain, Andalusia and Amor de Dios in Madrid. However flamenco in Japan is the biggest community in the world.
The Flamenco community in Boston is not as big as those in Japan and Spain, however people are very dedicated and they come to the class with passion for dance. There are many flamenco classes around Boston and the Flamenco community is getting bigger. The flamenco community is very passionate and people LOVE to express to connect with their soul.
Q: What else are you involved in right now in The Boston area?
A: I am performing flamenco with La Vida Breve at Jordan Hall led by the director of Opera, Joshua Mayor and the director of orchestra, Douglas Kenny. I am also performing in a Castanet choir in “The Fandangos” from Luigi Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet with New York City resident company, John Hegimbothan and with Verona quartet and the classical guitarist, Jérôme Mouffe at NEC produced by Celebrity Series of Boston. Finally, I’m performing Candite Suite with Peter DiMuros’s dance company and Boston landmark Orchestra. Collaborating such wonderful dancers and musicians bringing us to make art dance form more rich and beyond over our limited.
Most recently, I have been working with Theater of Ice Boston, an Ice skating team that will have a competition in France in spring of 2019. I am involved with them as an artistic adviser and choreographer.
Q: What do you enjoy more; choreography, teaching or performance. Why?
A: I enjoy everything, I can’t choose one.
As a choreographer, to be inspired making something new is my passion: I make choreography using American Pop, Japanese, Classical, Jazz, Opera music. I also use American sign language in Flamenco. Flamenco is something to be shared with all, not only for a person who can hear.
As a teacher, I try to give everything I have to my students. Even when I am tired, I try give passion to my students. This is a great way to communicate through dancing flamenco. Having a class is a big commitment and to be a teacher is a big responsibility.
As a performer, I have a mission to keep practicing and being in a good shape. When I dance, I try to connect with the audience and myself. Flamenco is a kind of mirror that reflects me and my passion.
Q: Through Flamenco Therapy, how do you feel Flamenco can help the elderly, sick, and children?
A: Two years ago, I set Flamenco Therapy up as a nonprofit organization and the program of FT is usually 30 minutes performance, followed by 15 minutes for an interactive class. The program has a great value and we are making the interactive class fun but still challenging. We think FT is beneficial for elderly people, in the following areas: physical for improvement in the control of movement, cognitive which includes the development of concentration and memorization and effective in promoting motivation and self-esteem, which includes emotions by developing sensitivity and creativity.
Blog post by Dance Complex Communications Associate Kiersten Resch