From dance to flamenco dance
Dance has accompanied mankind since its beginnings. Here we explain how flamenco dance came about.
Dance is the art by which we are able to communicate feelings and emotions through the movement of our body. In other words, dance, or body language as it is also known, is an art based on bodily expression that rhythmically accompanies music.
Origin of dance
Dance is one of the oldest known forms of expression. It has been discovered that people danced to the sounds of nature as far back as prehistoric times. As it evolved, hand clapping, heavy footfalls, the touch of sticks... were introduced until musical instruments or the voice itself were used.
There are many types of dance around the world but, since its ancestors, dance has always been characterised by being passionate and having the clear objective of expressing feelings. Depending on the culture, it has rules that must be respected and that need not only to be learnt, but also rehearsed.
From dance to flamenco
Dance has evolved in such a way that it has given rise to different types and genres, among which flamenco stands out. It began as popular or folkloric dance, and it transmitted the traditional culture of a place, expressing the values of its own culture.
It is said that it was in the 18th century that flamenco dance was recognised as such. This coincided with the development of music. And it is known that this flamenco dance, the result of the mixture of Arab, Jewish and gypsy culture, was born in Andalusia; between Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera and the Sevillian district of Triana.
It was not until the 19th century that it began to gain popularity. At first, the voice of the cantaores (singers) took all the attention of the audience, but little by little, the energy and passion of the bailaores (dancers) stole the limelight from them. It was then that what we know today as tablaos were born.
Flamenco dance
Flamenco is the best known of the Spanish dances, although it is stronger and more passionate. Since 2010, it has been considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.
In a flamenco performance, in addition to the singing, you can enjoy the outpouring of feelings that the flamenco dancer transmits with smooth movements full of emotion. The stage is filled with passion, emotion and a tension worth feeling and sharing.
Types of flamenco dance
Rather than talking about flamenco dances, we should talk about flamenco "palos", of which there are more than 50 different ones. This depends on the intensity of the performance, the movements and the structure.
Each palo has its own origin, its own type of lyrics, its own music and its own rhythm. They do share the improvisation of the dancer. Each one has a different way of showing feelings and emotions on stage, becoming their "personal stamp".
The best known flamenco palos are:
- Soleá A sad, solemn and deeply felt palo that is performed with arm movements, hip undulations and waist movements. It is one of the pillars of flamenco and the most performed by artists, and is best suited to women.Alegrías It is the oldest flamenco dance and, as its name indicates, it is a happy and festive rhythm. It is like the soleá but faster. It is characterised by the musicality of the guitar tones.
- Bulerías This is the most joyful and fun palo, which is usually used as the "fin de fiesta". It is distinguished by its fast rhythm and usually culminates other palos such as soleá and alegrías.
- Seguiriyas It is a sober dance, with a slow rhythm, accompanied by a painful singing. It is characterised by its dry, sonorous and chopped beats that usually produce a lot of emotion.
- Tangos This is another lively palo whose meter allows it to be performed with expressiveness and brilliance.
- Sevillanas It is somewhere between flamenco and Andalusian folklore, but it is undoubtedly the best known and the one that most people dance.
If you are passionate about flamenco dancing in ALL FLAMENCO you will find a wide range of content to choose from. From flamenco shows and festivals to masterclasses, cinema and even flamenco fashion. You will find everything about this art form in ALL FLAMENCO. Are you going to miss it?
