Complements for flamenco dancing
Flamenco dancing requires attitude and enthusiasm, but also some essential accessories to show your art on the tablao. This post of ALL FLAMENCO tells you what they are.
To dance flamenco the first thing you need is to have illusion. Because flamenco is an art full of emotional intensity that requires a great commitment from the dancer.
You must be able to make your ear and familiarize yourself with the compás in order to recognize the different flamenco palos. But it is also necessary to have good "working tools" such as shoes, skirts, dresses, tights and other accessories.
The importance of flamenco shoes
Flamenco dancing is distinguished by its arm movements and strong footwork, accompanied by guitar and singing. For that footwork, we need to have specific footwear, being this complement one of the most important.
If you are going to buy a dance shoe, the first thing you should take into account are aspects such as resistance, quality and comfort, as well as your taste when it comes to design. We are talking about one of the key tools for dancing, which will also protect you from injuries to both feet and ankles. Therefore, they must fit perfectly to the shape of your feet, something that leads many dancers to have them custom-made. It may be a bit more expensive but it will be worth it.
Types of professional shoes for flamenco dancing
There is a great variety of this essential accessory that depends on the level of the dancer. Thus, there are shoes for beginners, semi-professionals and professionals.
For beginners: They are made of leather in the sole and lining. Machine made, they have laces on the heel and toe to generate the sound of the heel tapping. They are usually closed with elastic or buckle and you can find them in synthetic leather.
For semi-professionals: Leather is more solid and resistant in key points such as the heel and toe.
For professionals: The sole is double leather and stitched with thread. You can find buckle, lace-up, elastic, double buckle...
Types of heels
Cuban heel. The most suitable for beginners or very long sessions and has between 3.5 and 7 centimeters.
Straight heel. It is the most common. Between 5 and 7 centimeters.
Spool heel. Its shape is narrower in the central area and wider at the junction and at the base. They are more eye-catching than comfortable and are usually between 5 and 7 centimeters high.
Flamenco skirts
Flamenco dance skirts are another essential accessory for a dancer. They come in different fabrics, shapes, prints, ruffles... The variety is very wide, so you will have to choose the one that best suits you.
For beginners we recommend the most basic black ones but, as you advance in your learning process, you can even dare to wear skirts with tails that will give more play and more strength to your show.
When you wear flamenco skirts it is essential that you combine them with other accessories: bodysuits or t-shirts. The first ones allow you better mobility and result. They are tight to the body, something that makes it more suitable than the t-shirt that can move when dancing.
Dresses for flamenco dancing
There are many dancers, both beginners and professionals, who feel much better in dresses. As they are a single piece, they find them a more favorable complement to the movement. This is a matter of taste and what the show requires. You will also be able to find an infinite number of models.
The tailed gowns, however, are for more professional dancers because handling the tail is a task that requires experience and many rehearsals.
Accessories for flamenco dancing
A bailaor or bailaora can use different accessories such as the cane, the manila shawl and the castanets.
A cane to set the rhythm
The cane is perhaps the least recognized accessory, but every flamenco lover knows that it is a very useful tool for teachers to use to set the tempo and rhythm for their students. They are also used in different shows.
Manila shawl
Manila shawls are an elegant piece used, above all, by dancers. They are characterized by their colors and the beauty of their embroidery, which can be machine-made or hand-embroidered. They are usually decorated with flowers, birds or fantasy. The shawl is finished with long bangs, an indispensable characteristic of this valuable and ancient piece.
Castanets
The castanets, also known as palillos, are a musical instrument belonging to the percussion family. Although they are not used for all dances, they give a special touch to the performance due to the coordination of their sound with the singing. They are usually made of hard wood and ivory.
We have talked about the typical and essential tools for flamenco dancing, although you can find other accessories that give a showy performance.
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