Flamenco
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Flamenco is a style of dance that originated with the gypsies of Andalusia, the most southern region of Spain. It most likely emerged sometime between the ninth and fourteenth century when the gypsies that now reside in Andalusia migrated from Rajasthan in northwest India. As the cultures of the Spanish people and these gypsies intermingled, the dance style now known as flamenco was born.
Flamenco truly is a captivating art form. It is a dance of passion and energy that can be performed alone (by a male or a female) or with partners. Modern flamenco is characterized by the artful combination of three things: cante (singing), toque (traditional Spanish guitar playing), and palmas (all rhythmic aspects, including the dance itself). A good example that shows all three can be seen here. All three of these aspects come together in beautiful harmony to create a wonderful piece of art.
For women, the costumes are also an important part of flamenco. A traditional flamenco dress had many ruffles in the skirt and would accentuate the movements of the dancer, as seen in the above picture. Many modern flamenco dancers, however, have begun to opt for more modern and elegant gowns that have a similar effect, as pictured to the right.
There have been many famous and extremely talented flamenco dancers since the dance style’s birth.
From: https://sites.psu.edu/mnshermanpassion/2017/03/23/flamenco/
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The History of Flamenco Dance
Flamenco Dancer | © Natalia Ba/Flickr
Evoking passion, temperament and energy, flamenco is one of the most exhilarating art forms to witness, both in the visual and in the audible sense. With centuries of socio-cultural evolution, flamenco has a rich history, which unfolds with every stomp of the dancer’s feet, strum of the musician’s guitar, and clap of the singer’s hands. In order to enjoy the flamenco of today, it might be useful though, to understand its origins, which are rooted in the gypsy culture of Andalusia, in the south of Spain.
Although the Spanish dance can nowadays be seen as synonymous with its national identity, its roots and the route to popularity were more complex. Undeniably, there is not a sole reason or event that propelled flamenco to acquiring a recognized status as a global dance in line with ballet and hip-hop, but rather a variety of factors that enabled this transformation. Three major developmental phases can be recognized in the evolution of flamenco: the arrival of the gypsies to Spain, the romantic era, and Franco’s dictatorship.
From: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/the-history-of-flamenco-dance/
