Palms, heels and lot of talent. This is Spanish flamenco, a dance with its origins in the cities of the south of Spain that also can be enjoyed in other points of the country. Flamenco is Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity according to Unesco and for those who know how to seek and value quality, it is also possible to attend a flamenco show in Barcelona.
Tips to understanding flamenco
Why is it special?
Flamenco dates back to the 15th century, when Muslims, Jews, Christians and Gypsies lived together in Andalusia. It is characterized by having its own norms and rhythms and are especially important the touch (el toque), the dance (el baile) and the folk singing (el cante).
Dance
The best way to understand how flamenco dancing is, it is watching it, and for this I leave you a great video.
Instruments
The musical instruments that make up flamenco are castanets, guitar and cajon (a flamenco box drum), as well as heels or palms. The fan and skirt of the dress also play a fundamental role.
Clothing
The women's flamenco costume is composed of a long dress with 8 or 9 ruffles and also by other accessories, such as the comb, earrings, shawl and flowers.
The men's suit is the fair's own: wide-brimmed hat, shirt, waistcoat, belt and trousers.
Some Keywords:
Olé! - If you know a word in Spanish, surely this expression is on the list. This expression is used by flamenco singers and dancers to cheer each other up.
Duende - It is the "mysterious charm" or charisma that the flamenco performers have.
Great characters
Some of the most famous flamenco characters have been Camarón de la Isla, Paco de Lucía (one of the best Spanish guitar musicians in history), La Niña de la Puebla, Estrella Morente, José Mercé, Lola Flowers or Antonio Molina.
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Catalonia is a region of Spain with its own cultural identity and other cultural and artistic manifestations of great importance, such as the human towers of catells. However, Barcelona is also a cosmopolitan city and attracting thousands of tourists who want to know the whole country in a single city. It is for this reason that it is easy to find flamenco dresses, castanets and other things on the streets of Barcelona.