Rosa Maria

I’ve been practicing a new flamenco dance, choreographed by my talented teacher Makeda. The Spanish song is about a man who is in love with a woman named Rosa Maria. “He compares her beauty to the colours of wildflowers and clear water. He is jealous of everything around her, including the flowers she admires, the mirror she uses, the comb she uses, and even the air she breathes.” He admires her very essence, longs to be part of her, and must continue to express his love of her to the world.

Wild flowers from the countryside
And water from a clear pond – like this I have compared
the colours of your face
Rosa Maria, if you loved me,
I’d be happy
She has happiness and beauty
And refinement in her gait
Even her laugh is beautiful
And different to the others
I’m jealous of the flowers,
Of the comb you use,
Of the air you breathe
Rosa Maria, if you loved me,
I’d be happy

There are some pretty complicated moves; I’m really trying to make my feet move at the speed of light but I find that I stall and then get very frustrated. It’s only a 2-minute song but it’s jam packed with fancy footwork. I’ve been bringing my board to the little studio at the gym in my building, hoping that the spin bicycles have been put away and no one else is there!

Elizabeth Gilbert announced her new book today – the Snow Forest, that is out in February. It’s about “a family who escapes the threats of early 20th century Russia” for a life of solitude in the Siberian wilderness. As a writer, Elizabeth actively removes herself from culture and noise, almost retreating to a form of urban wilderness. I have done that myself… it’s amazing how many great ideas will come to you in those quiet times – those times where the soul has a moment to connect to the stillness. Where your phone is not buzzing, you’re not thinking of what to do next – that’s when that little creative genie comes out to the play.