Flamenco

The title Flamenco covers a wide variety of music, song and dance, usually thought to be a performance of a singer, one or more dancers and the high-powered combined thrashing and caressing of a guitar.

Many diverse cultures settled in Andalucia in the early 15th century: Arabs. Christians, Greeks, Jews, Romans and nomadic Gypsies said to be from India. From this mesh of cultures a variety of flamenco styles grew. By the end of the 18th century many different types of cante hondo had been established mainly in the south-west of Andalucia, Cadiz, Jerez and Seville.

From the most soulful siguiriyas and soleas to the livlier boleros and fandangos there is a lifetime of passion from the performers and a life-time of understanding for the audience.

Tablaos are tourist – orientated Flamenco Shows and are worth seeing if you can’t find the real thing, though extravagantly flamboyant, you’ll not be unmoved.

Flamenco competitions take place every third year in Cordoba. The most important International Flamenco festival has been going since 1956. The year 2010 will be the 19th competition; the preliminary rounds usually take place between 23& 27th April, and are open to public viewing and are normally free. The finals of the competition are not normally for public viewing and end on 12th May.

An enthralling and famous festival - Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla a month-long bi-annual festival takes place, the next one is in September to October 2010.

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