VOLUPTUOUS is the only way to describe a female flamenco dancer!
No ‘skin and bones’ like a ballerina, or the plump jiggling frame of a Hawaiian dancer…
Just sheer FEMME FATALE !
Dressed in red or black the señorita magestically sings, dances, claps , stamps , snaps her pretty fingers .. all …more or less simultaneously!
The first thought that struck whilst watching a Flamenco show in Barcelona was that
Hey this sure is LOUD!!
LOUD
Stamping and stomping of feet ,
LOUD snapping of fingers,
LOUD raucous Clapping of hands together or across ones body ,
LOUD crooning,
And LOUD though wholesome Strumming of guitars !
That’s the unusual thing about Flamenco!
It SHOUTS out EVERYTHING !!
While what the lead singer was trying to say in her song remains a mystery (she sang in Spanish)
one could guess by her pained expressions that the content was tragic and the events that she sang about in her life were steeped in pathos.
Punctuated with fits of anger and bitterness too !
No joy , only oceans of grief!
Ole’!
The accompanying male dancers sporting long wild hair and longer sideburns, danced skilfully stamping their feet akin to tap dancers ….And of course never a smile escaped their lips!
Ole’!
The guitarists .. a welcome addition ( since the 1800s) to this art form which took its origin in 800 AD definitely enhanced the evenings experience.
Flamenco guitars are lightweight ,made of cypress rather than rosewood and are strummed very deftly and lightly !
The beats in the cafe cantata that night rose in cadence from gentle to frenetic , from a trot to a canter to a climaxing gallop !
So how best to describe flamenco except that it expresses FEELINGS!
Feelings of angst ,passion, bewilderness, of love lost !
A deep seated lament!
A mystery !
It is born of so many influences ..
Arabic/ Christian / a little Jewish / a little gypsy !
All fusing to produce a crosspollinated flower of uniqueness !
The hand movements look definitely Arabic ,
The Foot movements European folk ,
The guitar ranges from soulful to violent ,
The singing bursts with Moroccon overtones!
What an unusual mix !
Heady too !
No wonder then this art born in Andalusia , Southern Spain.. with its cousins in Morocco and Latin American countries
Won the UNESCO prize for INTANGIBLE WORLD HERITAGE TREASURE in 2010!
🎖🎖🎖!
With all this clapping and stamping ,
am tempted to practise the footwork ….
And to don my black dress..
Here goes….
Ole’
💃💃💃💃💃Byeee!
A Second Learning 
Awesome!
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Muchos Gracias Jo!
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You looked every bit Spanish 😘
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Haha.. Thankyou Suman!
Let’s meet soon and stamp and clap a bit!
Singing we can leave out!!
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Mucho good senorita👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
There’s a Spanish word which is used by the crowd when the dance touches the heart- sort of enlightened moment. It escapes me currently but I shall find out. Beautifully written as usua. The photos were especially spectacular
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Try Ole’ Ashish!
It works for anything!!!
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Hrithik n the boys team in ZNMD.Brought bk memories.Senhorita take a bow
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Thankyou Mads!
Let’s actually have a flamenco at our next reunion .. we’ve got the singers and guitarists ..
Dancing we will do ..
zindagi na milegi dubaara style ..
Bollywood always seems to take over!
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Some trivia for you:
1. Flamenco is connected to our very own tradition of Kathak
2. One of the percussion accompaniments -the Cajon, again is not of Spanish origin
Thanks and Regards
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Wow!
Love your info Zorro !
Yes now that you mention it ,definitely there are nuances similar ,
The hand movements , the slapping of the thighs.. though in Kathak it’s all so delicate !
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Ole Senorita .You are looking gorgeously Spanish.as usual brilliantly descriptive
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Thankyou so much Pinki!
I find I can either stamp my feet or clap !
Both simultaneously will need super practise !
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Wow
As usual beautifuly written.
And you look gorgeous.
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Thankyou Malan!
With all the accessories.. flower in hair, castanets , fan , shawl , frills,…you just can’t go wrong!
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Radha just loved this piece.you made this dance come alive for us readers.super
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Thankyou Lekha!
Enjoying this whole learning process!❤️
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All dance forms bring so much together.
You know it more than any one else … with your proficiency in Odissi!
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☺️The best part of the post is to see you in “Don looks in Black “and the video with the moves.. Awesome 😍.. Love to stamp and clap a bit with you some day 😊😊
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How cute Deepika !
Yes we will💃!
❤️
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You open up a window, to a new culture. Everything is so lively.
How precisely written, getting connected in an instant.
The movements and the song get you hooked up.
The experience seems to forget everything and get engrossed in the moment.
What an enlightening moment you have. 💞 Great time!!!💖🌷🍁
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Wowee Gita!
Thankyou so much !
Am floored !
And ready to dance away !!
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