Flamenco

          After learning about the passion of Buenos Aires, this week we return to South-West Europe, the birthplace of Flamenco. Flamenco is a fundamental art form of Spanish culture. If you continue reading, you will understand why I describe Flamenco a form of art.

          According to the website called All about Spain, Flamenco evolved in Andalusia between the 8^th and the 15^th century. The development of the style can be owed to the fusion of traits from the Arabs, Gypsies, Jews, and the indigenous Andalusians (classicalguitarmidi.com). Similarly to Tango, Flamenco was born in the lower layers of society and ascended to the higher classes. The first schools of Flamenco were established between 1765 and 1860 in Seville, and gained prestige in the ballrooms as well. (All about Spain) In the second half of the 19^th century the café cantantes emerged, where the Flamenco dancers and musicians entertained the customers with their performance.
 

 

          The reason I defined Flamenco as an art form is due to the three layers of the performance. The music is provided by the guitarist and the singer, the visual effect is acted out by the dancer(s) and the mixture of this three renders the heartstirring experience. Flamenco was primarily a solo dance with the bailaor or bailaora improvising the choreography that expresses the music and his/her feelings. 

          Duets, dances performed by a man and a woman, are common as well. Nevertheless, the dancers do not hold each other’s hand throughout the whole performance. They rather keep a deep eye contact dancing in a circle or opposite each other. Letting go of the glance, they continue to dance individually.

          Important devices that accompany the music and emphasize the rhythm are the clapping of hands, the stamping of feet, or the castanets (an instrument that is held in the hand, and if the two shell-formed sides are tapped together, it makes a click).Another principal element of the dance is the beautiful dress of the female dancer .It is preferably a red dress, with a multilayer skirt that whirls around when the lady turns, and is even used as another prop of the performance.

           If not doing it, I enjoy watching a Flamenco performance because of the juxtaposition of tender arm movements and strict posture and rhythm. The contrasts of life and emotions are all involved in one movement.

          If you want to learn more about the different modes or types of Flamenco, you can watch the movie Flamenco (1997) by Carlos Saura. Or, here is an interesting website with more details about the dance.