Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (June 10/02) - When Kelly Craver moved to Iqaluit from Victoria to expand her Web design and computer graphics business, she also planned to teach flamenco dancing.

"My friends said no one's going to take flamenco dancing up there, you're nuts," she says.

But after tacking up a few posters around town, the phone started ringing.

"A lot of people seem to know what it is," she says. "They want to know if they need experience or a partner."

Fortunately, it's a no-partner, no-experience- necessary kind of class.

Craver fell in love with the theatrical dance form while living in Spain in the mid-1990s. Sadly, it was the day before she left Spain that she first saw the dance performed at a local competition.

"I loved it," she says.

So, eventually, she returned to Spain to dance. And later brought flamenco dancing back to Victoria.

Flamenco dancers typically perform with passionate fervour in bright, garish costumes alongside singers, guitarists and rhythmic hand-clappers.

In authentic flamenco dancing, there's a lot of interchange and improvisation between members of the group.

But why do they perform with such serious, almost tortured expressions?

Craver says flamenco originated in the 17th century and was further developed as the Roma gypsies in Spain made the transition to a less nomadic lifestyle.

As with other transitions, the Roma found their new cultural environment challenging and they faced constant discrimination -- hence the dramatic lyrics and sombre expressions.

"It's a music of protest," says Craver. "Generally, gypsies don't feel they've had a good time of it. They don't smile a lot."

But some songs, about the beauty of Spain, are livelier and happier.

One theory about the form's beginning is that gypsies, who worked as blacksmiths, made music with the hammers they worked with. "So the story goes," says Craver. "Over the years that developed into a very marketable dance form."

Marketable and complicated. But Craver says people shouldn't be scared -- the lessons start with basic postures.

Classes begin on June 13 at 7 p.m. at the Francophone Association. The first class is free. Craver also plans to teach teenage girls at the Makkuttukkuvik youth centre and lend her expertise to the Iqaluit Dance Club.