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Flamenco  - Spain's Dance of Passion

Flamenco is a genuine southern Spanish experience. It exists in three forms: Cante, the song, Baile, the dance, and Guitarra, guitar playing. Although there are clues as to how this dance and folk music evolved, the details are lost in history. Gypsies are very often named as its fathers, and they did (and still) play an important part in Flamenco. 

During the Golden age (1860-1920) of Flamenco dance arrived to its climax, being the major attraction for the public of  cafés cantantes in very main town in Andalusia. Guitar players featuring the dancers increasingly gained a worldwide reputation.

Today, the gypsies dancing the flamenco continue both as tourist attraction, and if you become immersed in Spanish culture, as part of the traditions that continue as part of the Spanish way of life. Shows put on for Tourists are very popular and well worth visiting, but they say you have not listened experienced Flamenco if not in a juerga with a small group of friends, at midnight somewhere in the South of Spain, when there is nothing around but the voice, the guitar and the body of a dancer moving in the moonlight


Flamenco’s characteristics
Flamenco combines acoustic guitar playing, singing, chanting, dancing and staccato handclapping. The flamenco dancer performs with passion,  even tortured expressions but always striving for grace and dignity.

The guitar — there may be one or several — and the rapid rhythmic handclapping of the singers and dancers set the scene.

The dancer will not begin immediately, but waits, absorbing the rhythmic music and handclapping  until inspired to dance.

Its the dancer’s spontaneous expression of the moment’s emotions. The Spanish call it duende (DWEN-day). The word means goblin or fairy, but to the flamenco dancer it signifies an inner force that fuels an inspired performance.

A dancer with duende goes beyond technical mastery to will vent his or her feelings, achieving a powerful, compelling dance. Those who aren’t singing may shout encouragement: olé or ¡baile! ¡baile! — dance! dance! As an observer, you don’t really see good flamenco, you feel it.

Where to see flamenco
Your best opportunities to see good flamenco will be at the flamenco festivals held throughout Andalusia during the summer.
Take a late-evening stroll among the pavilions erected for these events. You can then watch dancing and singing that results from the spontaneous exuberance of Andalusians enjoying themselves.

Some flamenco festivals
June: Cordoba, Malaga, Granada, Utrera (El Potaje Gitano) , Dos Hermanas (Seville)
July: Moron de la Frontera, Sevilla (El Gazpacho), Cordoba Festival Internacional de la Guitarra, Alcala de Guadaira, Sevilla Festival Flamenco
August: Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz (Baluarte) Jueves Flamencos on Thursdays, Jerez flamenco Fridays (Cine Astoria), Loja, Granada, Villanueva de la Concepcion, Malaga Festival de Verdiales, Mairena de Alcor Festival de Cante Jondo "Antonio Mairena"

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