How to dance Flamenco

Brief Introduction:

Flamenco is one of the most popular and characteristic feature in Spanish culture.  The word Flamenco is a tripartite art, involving singing; the song is called as Cante, dancing named as Baile and Guitarra the use of guitar, all being used simultaneously.

There are many different types of pieces within flemanco, all having their generic names like, seguiriyas, soleares, alegras, malaguenas, fandangos, zapateado, rondena and many more.Each one of them has a mood and rhythm. Flamenco dancing is characterized by colorful costumes, intense movements, stamping of the feet (zapateado), and clapping of the hands (palmada).

History:

The origin of Flamenco is thought to be the mixture of at least four cultures as; Gypsies, Moors or Arabs, Jews, and the Andalusians. It has been considered to be originated particularly from one of the Spain’s province--- the Andalusia.

Between 1765 and 1860, the first Flamenco schools were created by Cadiz, where the dance started to have a firm position in ball room dances. Early Flamenco is thought to be purely vocal, with the clapping of hands, toque de palms.

Then during 1869-1910, the definitive form of Flamenco was developed in the café’s (café cantantes). From 1910-1955, Flamenco singing came in the form of “opera Flamenca.” From then, the Flamenco was developed all over the world.

Flamenco music:

Flamenco music is believed to be originated in the early 19th century from canto hondo(deep song) of Andalusia, accompanied by a guitar.Flamenco music is characterized by a particular body of song, dance and guitar music. The Flamenco song is based on a particular group of modes with Phrygian characteristics.

The accompaniment is usually played on a guitar taking three styles; rasgueado (strumming), paseo (lively melodious passage work) and falsetas (improvised interludes).

Forms of Flamenco Expression:

Flamenco is expressed through the toque, the playing of Flamenco guitar, the cante (singing), and the baile (dancing).

·    Toque:

The first Flamenco guitars are believed to be originated in Spain around 15th century. The traditional Flamenco guitar is made up of Spanish cypress and spruce. It is lighter and smaller in size than a classical guitar. It gives a more sharp sound.

·    Cante:

Cante is often called as the heart of Flamenco. The verses of these songs are really beautiful. Flamenco song can be categorized in number of ways as, Solea, Siguiriya, Tango and Fandango.

·    Baile:

EI Baile is a highly expressive form of Flamenco solo dance, which involves sweeping of the arms and stomping of the feet. In addition to the percussion provided by the heels and balls of the feet, castanets are held in the hands and clicked together with the music rhythm.

Clothes and shoes:

It is suggested to wear a top in order to avoid the restricted movements. Moreover, the trousers should not be too long as a tap or sound on the floor needs to be clear. A solid soled shoe is a better choice which will produce some sound while walking on it. It is advised to have character shoes for performing Flamenco dance.

Musical characteristics:

Harmony:

Flamenco music has been derived mainly from Arabic Adani music with the preservation of the Phrygian or Greek Dorian mode. In ancient Greek music, the Flamenco melodies are found to be descending than the ascending patterns as found in the Western music.

The Phrygian mode is the most popular and common in Flamenco music. It is used for solea, bulerias, siguiriyas, tangos and tientos. The Flamenco version of this mode contains two frequent alterations in the 7th and even the 3rd degree of the scale.

Melody:

The Flamenco singing has many characteristic features like;

·    The presence of intervals smaller than the semitone,

·    Change from one note to the other is done in a smooth transition,

·    Most of the Flamenco songs are limited to a range of sixth,

·    Use of enharmonic scale,

·    Baroque ornamentation,

·    Greek Dorian mode,

·    Most styles express sad and bitter feelings,

·    Melodic improvisation.

Compas:

It is a Spanish word for meter and time signature in music. But in Flamenco, besides these meanings it also refers to a rhythmic cycle of Flamenco style. Flamenco uses three basic counts or measures; Binary, Ternary, and the twelve beat cycle which is a unique feature of Flamenco.

·    Rhythms in 2/4 or 4/4. These meters are used in forms like tangos, tientos, gypsy rumba and zambra.

·    Rhythms in 3/4. These are typical of fandangos and sevillanas, both of which originate from Spanish folk.

·    12-beat rhythms usually usually rendered in amalgams of 6/8+3/4 and sometimes measure of12/8. 12 beat amalgams are the most common in Flamenco. There are three types of these varying in use of accentuations.

1.    The solea.
      
2.    The seguiriya.

3.    The buleria.

The compas is fundamental to Flamenco, without which there is no Flamenco.