Page 22 - All About History - Issue 70-18

SPAIN

How to

FLAMENCODANCE TRY AN ARTFUL DANCE REVOLUTION

ANDALUSIA,SPAIN,1765 PRESENTDAY

a
y g
Flamenco is form of art which Playing music
originally came from Andalusia in The playing of a guitar during flamenco
southern Spain. It comprises music, is known as toque. Flamenco guitars
singing, hand clapping and dancing produce notes at a higher volume to be
heard over the dancer’s footwork.
and it draws great influence from the
Romani and Arabic cultures going Men and women
back as far as the 9th century. Over
Although many people tend to associate
time, flamenco has evolved from flamenco dancing with women, men
being performed in private gatherings e
into a professional, commercial songs have been gender-specific.
pursuit, with the dancing involving Importance of dance
p
much hand and footwork in a highly
During the Golden Age of Flamenco
emotional and focussed display of between 1869 to 1910 dancing
expression. More than 50 different replaced singing (or cante) as the main
component.
component
flamenco styles, or palos, have
pp
la
in
g
g
emerged dealing with themes as C pp g along
varied as religion and death, although Another key aspect of flamenco is palmas
fl
f
i
k
l
th
t
A
the timing of the dance moves in which hand clapping is used as a form
of percussion (palmas), allowing for a
depends on the rhythm of strong tempo.
the accompaniment.
Enjoying a fiesta
WHAT YOU’LL B f fl b l
Before flamenco became popular in i
music cafes (cafes cantantes) during the
NEED… golden era, 18th century flamenco fiestas
(juerga) could last for days.
CASTANETS TS
Traditional dress
The traje de flamenca is the traditional l
Th t j d fl i th t diti
dress worn by woman during Andalusian
festivals, with a shawl over the shoulder.
DRESS

SHOES

T T T

01 flamenco dances. Tuck in your belly and keep your knees 02 FEEL THE MUSIC
FEET
FIGURE
YOUR
Rhythmic feet stomping is a key component of all
Flamenco dancing (or baile as it’s known in Spanish)
typically the guitar. You will
is
accompanied by music,
bent and, with your toes touching the floor, lift and tap your need to feel the music and move your feet in time to it. Practise
–
heels. Now try the golpe – this involves stamping your feet so planta hitting the ground with the front part of your sole – and
PASSI that the heel and front of the foot hit the ground at the same look to get faster with your various footwork, striking the floor
time. Try alternating these techniques.
with different intensity.

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