The Vista July 14, 2010

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Campus Quotes

Robotics

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What do you think of Durant’s contract extension? Page 2

UCO Robotics Club prepares to debut robotics class in the fall. Page 3

Superintendant of Edmond’s water resource claims the city’s water is safe and clean. Page 4

Former Edmond high school football players prepare for the NFL. Page 7

JULY 14, 2010

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THE VISTA

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA’S student voice since 1903.

FAMILY TRADITION LEADS TO CAREER Reyes Flamenco dancing keeps audiences By Jenefar De Leon / Staff Writer

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rika Reyes knew her future would somehow involve music at a very young age. She was surrounded with music and performance all her life, and knew she would follow in the family tradition in the future. Not many can say they knew exactly what they wanted to do at a young age, but Reyes began dancing at an early age, and she used her passion for music and performance to lead her to a career in dance education. Reyes is a senior here at UCO. Her major is dance education, and she hopes to inspire others as did her family when she was young. Her mother played the piano, and her aunt was involved in dance. Her uncle was involved in a popular music group, Color Me Bad. And her father loved to dance salsa and have music playing in her household. She started to dance at the age of three, taking ballet at Everything Goes Dance Studio, which her aunt, Shannon Calderon Primeau, took ownership of. Primeau helped train her in ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz and even flamenco before the age of 10. Her younger sister, now 10 years old, is following her older sister’s and aunt’s footsteps. Reyes is very proud her younger sister is following in her footsteps. “We are not forced to do it,” she said. “We do it because we love it.” She loves every aspect of dance, but she has an extra special talent to perform flamenco. Flamenco is a passionate and expressive form of dance, descendent of Spain. It involves beautiful costumes, elaborate flowers and a majority of stomping and clapping.

She fell in love with flamenco at the age of eight. She was involved in a flamenco workshop, and she fell in love with the culture, the history and the passion of flamenco dancers. “I love it. ... You can stomp your feet, wear beautiful costumes and have pretty flowers in your hair,” she said. The music is beautiful, and the culture is beautiful, and I just fell in love with it.” Her performance is well-known in the dance world. She has been praised and won several talent competitions for her flamenco dancing throughout her career. “I turn into a different character [when I perform],” she said. “I imagine myself I am in Spain performing for a queen.” She not only is involved in dancing, but also enjoys UCO’s campus activities and opportunities. She has been Miss Hispanic UCO 2008 and Miss Latina Oklahoma in 2009. She is involved in teaching at Everything Goes Dance Studio, as well as being involved in UCO’s campus activities, performing and at the same time having a full-time student workload. She also performs flamenco with her sister, aunt and cousin every Friday night at Zorba’s Mediterranean Cuisine at 6014 North May Avenue in Oklahoma City. S h e

Hair and Accessories

DID YOU KNOW? The planet Saturn has a density lower than water. So, if placed in water it would float.

With the hair pulled back in a bun, a round or square neck made the wearer’s neck appear thinner. The flowers added to the flirty style of the entire look.

likes to think it is a major part of her family and chance for everyone to come together for support. It is also an opportunity to share the unique performance with other Oklahomans. “I don’t see any of it as work, or hard or stressful. I enjoy it,” she said. “I enjoy every second of it. I love going to ‘work,’ which is going to see my five-year-old and teaching them to dance. ... I am getting to do what I want to do in the future. It doesn’t seem like work because I get to do what I love.”

I love it. ... You can stomp your feet, wear beautiful costumes and have pretty flowers in your hair,” she said. The music is beautiful, and the culture is beautiful, and I just fell in love with it.

Flamenco Facts Shoes

Shoes are crucial to the performance. The material and heel can significantly affect the performance. Most Flamenco shoes have nails at the bottom of the heel and at the tip of the toes to enhance the stomping.

Dress Shape

The dress was designed to enhance a woman’s figure and hide flaws. The original dress had a guitar-shaped body. The frills are meant to enhance the way a woman walks, and various accessories, such as scarves and flowers, added to the flirty style.


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