In a hidden alley off Cobb Lane, the quaint, brick-paved path in Birmingham's Southside, thick heels pound in rhythm on a wood floor. Fingers snap and castanets click to the bold strumming of an acoustic guitar and an occasional ecstatic yelp. Flamenco, the multi-disciplinary art form from southern Spain believed to have originated with wandering Gypsies, has found a home -- again -- in Birmingham. Irene Rimer, founder and director of the 15-member dance troupe, Corazon Flamenco, arrived in the Magic City a little more than a year ago to establish a studio -- Dance Essentials -- leaving behind 500 students in Miami. Settling here with her husband and children, Rimer brought an extensive resume and a chance to start a performing ensemble -- something that wasn't possible for her in Miami.
"I could never do something like this," explained the petite dancer in a quick, staccato Spanish accent. "The culture is a little different. Even though there are more Hispanics in Miami, it's more geared toward Latin culture. To put together a company of people who are so committed to flamenco -- that's what's happening here."
With a firm grounding in classical ballet, at age 13 she became a solo touring dancer with Jose Serrano Classic Spanish Dance. One of her teachers, Maria Magdalena, gave her the stage name, "La Chata." Rimer traveled extensively, performing and studying in Europe, Morocco, Venezuela and the United States before moving to Miami in 1985. In 1991, she earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, studying with Grand Master Jhoon Rhee.
Her father, a bullfighter associated with Cesar and Curro Giron, introduced her to flamenco at an early age. "He's a flamenco aficionado," she said. "He was a matador, but he became an attorney after awhile because he got poked by one of the bulls. He's coming to the show. I was just in Spain and he booked the trip."
The show is "Blood Wedding," the 1932 tragedy by Federico Garcia Lorca. Based on a true story about a bride who is swept away on her wedding day by Leonardo, a former lover, the show combines dance, theater and music. Rimer has created the choreography and will portray the bride Saturday at WorkPlay. Manolo Vargas, a flamenco guitarist from Seville, Spain, will be a guest artist, and local actor and fledgling flamenco dancer Carlos Lencina, will play Leonardo. Todd Ponder portrays the bride's father.
Lencina, a financial analyst and native Spaniard who has acted in several plays in Birmingham, used to dance "fake" flamenco at social gatherings, but took it up seriously after meeting Rimer.
"When I saw Irene and her talent, I knew right away I couldn't fake it," Lencina said. "I started taking her classes and doing traditional flamenco steps." Much of Lencina's movement - and Rimer's ensemble choreography - will incorporate Sevillanas, an Andalusian folk dance, as well as flamenco. But getting across the intense emotions of "Blood Wedding" requires more. "We have 30 in the cast, including musicians," Rimer said. "We're doing paso doble and a couple of classic numbers, one with castanets, and, of course, flamenco. We're singing cantas as well. It won't be monotonous..."
More than an art form, flamenco is a good outlet for dancers, Rimer says...
Flamenco is very, very deep. In a world where people are under so much stress, it's a healthy and fulfilling way of expressing feelings.
I have a lot of happy people here."