Flamenco is an art form based on the folkloric music traditions of Andalusia. It expresses passion through song (“cante”), dance (“baile”) and guitar (“toque”). This ancestral art is still very much alive today. Flamenco is at the core of Andalusian culture. It is part of festivities, celebrations and also every day life. It’s in their blood!
Although its exact origins are open to debate, it seems clear that flamenco was born in Andalusia. It is believed to have originated from the Roma music that the gypsies (“gitanos” in Spanish) brought with them when they migrated to Spain from northern India (9th to 15th centuries).
Over the centuries, it mixed with the Jewish, Moorish and Christian cultures that occupied Spain, creating this unique art form that we now call flamenco.
One of the most characteristic elements of flamenco is what is called “duende.” This concept represents the emotion and the passion on the performance. It occurs when the performer is “in the zone” and reaches a state where they are overcome by the emotion and passion of the performance.
Here are some other important characteristics of flamenco:
There are many different genres of flamenco (bulerías, sevillanas, fandangos, etc.), but all flamenco songs fall into one of the following three categories:
In 2010, flamenco was even declared one of the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
If you are interested in seeing a flamenco performance on your visit to Spain then below you will find a selection of the best flamenco shows in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Cordoba and Malaga.
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