The Art of Flamenco

      Flamenco is the traditional song and dance of the Gypsies of Andalucía in southern Spain. It developed over several centuries from Gypsy, Moorish (Arabs), Jews, Andalusian, and other roots.

      Flamenco is a tripartite art, involving singing "cante", dance "baile" and the guitar "toque" simultaneously - as well as rhythmic punctuation (by hand-claps and other methods) that is considered an art form in its own right.

      There are hundreds of different types of pieces within flamenco, which have generic names such as seguiriyas, soleares, alegrias, malagueñas, fandangos, etc. They are defined by characteristic melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic structures; each has a characteristic mood and many are variants of essentially similar forms.

     In the last 40 years, the art of Flamenco has developed into an entertainment by professional musicians and dancers that is popular with audiences throughout the world.

What is Spanish Dance?

      Spanish Dance is a complex dance form, difficult to explain in a single paragraph. Basically, Spanish dance can be categorized in 4 groups, which are Flamenco, Classical Spanish Dance, Spanish Folklore and Eighteenth Century Dances.

      By far, Flamenco is the best-known Spanish dance form due to the many dancers ("bailaores") and musicians performing this genre. As a result, Flamenco has eclipsed the performance of other Spanish dance forms outside of Spain. 

      Classical Spanish Dance encompasses sophisticated choreography of Classical Music by great Spanish composers such as Manuel de Falla, Albéniz, Granados, and Turina.  Dancers wear either Spanish Folklore shoes, Flamenco shoes or Ballet shoes, often while playing the castanets. The dance blends Flamenco, Folklore, and Classical Ballet.

      Spanish Folklore is very diverse.  Each region of Spain has its own dances, some of which are centuries old.  These dances include the "muñeira" from Galicia, the "verdiales" from Málaga, the "zorcico" from the Vasc Province, and the "sardana" from Cataluña, all of which are very different.  Folklore is the most distinctive cultural expression of each region.  Through these beautiful dances, the people of each region express their uniqueness and proud cultural heritage. 

      Eighteenth Century Dances, called "Escuela Bolera", are short dances performed with outfits, shoes and castanets typical of the time of the great Spanish painter Goya, which is why they are also called "Goyescas". These dances are performed using dance steps from classical ballet along with movements and expressions typical of XVIII Century Spain. 

      The Castanets, part of Spain's musical heritage, are a percussion instrument popular in various Spanish dances. Mastery of the castanets requires separate study from dance to gain maximum artistic expression.