To Joseph MayaRhythm is a universal language, something we all carry within us, even if many people don't develop it. And of course, it can be an inexhaustible source of enjoyment. This is what the Madrid-born flamenco dancer explained last week at the flamenco show. Vermilion Towers from the capital of Spain Rhythm Paradise Groove, a collection of rhythm games that the Japanese giant has just launched Nintendo.
“I am very pleased to present to you a new version of a very special video game: Rhythm Paradise Groove. And I say it is very special because, for me, rhythm is one of the most important things in life,” he commented in the masterclass in which he was accompanied by Alejandro Fernández-Barba, product manager for Rhythm Paradise Groove at Nintendo Spain.
“Everything around us operates to a rhythmic beat: the movement of the stars, the rotation of the planets, the course of the Sun. In nature itself there is a hidden rhythmic score: in the vibration of light, in the birth of flowers, in the waves of the sea, in the wind… And the most fascinating thing is that it is also within us. Our pulse, the beating of our heart, is not an isolated event; it is interconnected with the pulses of life.”
The flamenco dancer, who is in exceptional form and has been dazzling audiences from all over the world with his performances this season, also wanted to share his direct experience in this field. “Personally, I have been fortunate to be born into a culture where our parents pass on rhythm and music to us as a children's game,” he asserted. “For us, it's a form of entertainment. They teach us to play the palmasto dance, to sing and to feel the joy that encourages us to take it as a challenge, as a game.”
"I've been lucky enough to be born into a culture where our parents pass on rhythm and music to us like a children's game. For us, it's a form of entertainment. They teach us to play the..." palmasto dance, to sing and to feel the joy that encourages us to take it as a challenge, as a game."
“For example,” Maya continued, “a common game from my childhood involved forming a circle with all the children. We had to go to the center to express ourselves, in a challenge to show who danced best, who created the best percussion pattern, or who reached the highest note, while a jury—made up entirely of children—kept the beat for us with the palmas".
According to the artist, This culture of transmitting music and rhythm as a game is a tradition of ancient cultures such as African, Hindu, Eastern, and their own Gypsy culture.“Music and rhythm, besides being a game, teach us mathematical and logical concepts; among them, counting, length, height, patterns and symmetry. In fact, various studies show that, by using music and movement at the same time, both hemispheres of the brain are activated.”
However, José Maya warned that “this transmission from our parents is being lost in contemporary society, largely due to the decline of popular music. That's why I believe in the importance of a video game that educates us musically. Rhythm brings joy, helps us communicate, express ourselves, concentrate, and feel good.”
“The game immerses us in the 4x4 rhythm”He concluded, “This rhythm is a universal beat where jazz, rock, blues, salsa, and all coexist.” flamencoThrough different rhythmic patterns such as on-beat, off-beat, syncopation, and double time, the player travels along a curve of concentration and learning. You don't play by looking, you play by listening. ♦
