Flamenco – Deeply Traditional In Sevilla
When tourists think about Spain, and Andalucía specifically, the image of a flamenco dancer comes to mind, with the woman’s brightly colorful dress and the man’s rapid heel stomping shoes.
Flamenco, in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia. Flamenco is closely associated with the gitanos (or gypsies of the Romani ethnicity) who have contributed significantly to its origination and professionalization. However, its style is uniquely Andalusian and flamenco artists have historically included Spaniards of both gitano and non-gitano heritage.
As UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) describes it, “Flamenco is an artistic expression fusing song (cante), dance (baile) and musicianship (toque). Andalusia in southern Spain is the heartland of Flamenco. Cante is the vocal expression of flamenco, sung by men and women, preferably seated, accompanied by a guitarist. The gamut of feelings and states of mind – grief, joy, tragedy, rejoicing and fear – can be expressed through sincere, expressive lyrics characterized by brevity and simplicity.
Traditional Flamenco at Los Gallos, Sevilla
Flamenco baile is a dance of passion, courtship, expressing a wide range of situations ranging from sadness to joy. The technique is complex, differing depending on whether the performer is male (heavier use of the feet) or female (gentler, more sensual movements). Toque or the art of guitar playing has long surpassed its original role as accompaniment. Other instruments, including castanets, hand-clapping and foot-stamping are also employed.
It is believed that the flamenco genre emerged at the end of the 18th century in cities and agrarian towns of Baja Andalusia, highlighting Jerez de la Frontera as the first written vestige of this art, although there are few records to verify this claim.
Flamenco is performed during religious festivals, rituals, church ceremonies and at private celebrations. It is the badge of identity of numerous communities and groups, in particular the Gitano (Roma) ethnic community, which has played an essential role in its development. Transmission occurs through dynasties, families, social groups and Flamenco clubs, all of which play a key role in its preservation and dissemination.”
Men’s Turn at Flamenco Dance at Los Gallos
Triana, one of Sevilla’s neighborhoods, is a guardian of the Flamenco dance, with a number of shows playing on a daily basis. It seems like the entire neighborhood participates in one or another, in their nightly shows.
The one that I always go to see is the show Los Gallos Tablao Flamenco in the Santa Cruz neighborhood (also known as the Jewish Quarter). I like it because it is a wonderful combination of slow and fast flamenco dances. It also highlights the rapid guitar work of the musicians and the singing of the backup crew. Their dance team, I believe, is also the most authentic in terms of their ancestry from Romani (Roma) gypsies.
Los Gallos is an intimate show room with about 100 chairs place in concert style seating. There are several booths and an upstairs as well. The audience sites very close to the stage so you can see, up close and personal, the fingers fly across the guitar strings, you can clearly hear the castanets (in Andalusia they are usually referred to as palillos (little sticks) instead, and this is the name by which they are known in flamenco) and above all, you can see the emotions unfold on the dancer and singers faces.
I have been to Los Gallos four times during my various visits to Sevilla. Each time, it seems new and just as fresh as the first time I attended a show.
You will be completely taken with the rapid guitar playing, enthralling flamenco dancing by the men and women, the rapid hand clapping and the almost unintelligible lyrics of the singers and the overall spectacle of the show that you will want to come back the very next day!
