Flamenco is a popular artistic expression of great tradition that is part of the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

With Nuria Rial Lorenzo and Saray Cortes Gimenez

Locations :

Hotel Sol Principe – Torremolinos

Malaga

This art combines vocal music, dance and musical accompaniment (called singing, dancing and playing) and has its origin mainly in Andalusia and in other regions such as Murcia and Extremadura. It is a cultural manifestation with centuries of history (some experts place its origin in the 18th century, when its popularity began to grow) is the most representative of Andalusian folklore and one of the best-known artistic expressions of Spain. It is a true sign of identity of numerous communities, such as the gypsy ethnic group, and is transmitted from generation to generation through dynasties of artists, families, flamenco clubs, various festivals of great relevance and schools and flamenco tablaos, increasingly numerous.

There are many flamenco figures whose works have obtained great recognition, such as Antonio Gades, Enrique Morente, Eva La Yerbabuena, La Niña de la Puebla, Joaquín Cortés, Antonio Canales, Rafael Amargo, Antonio “El Bailarín”, Camarón de la Isla, Cristina Hoyos or Carmen Amaya, among others.

Both singing and dancing can express a multitude of varied feelings. The cante, in addition to the flamenco guitar, can also be accompanied by castanets, the “drawer”, palms and heels and has several “sticks” or varieties (the toná, the soleá, the seguiriya, the fandango, the sevillanas …) , depending on its character, its origin … For its part, the dance has a complex technique and its interpretation varies depending on who performs it.

Both flamenco dancing and music include a high degree of personal improvisation, which takes shape through the spontaneous expressions of the interpreter’s emotions at each moment of the performance.

With the flourishing development of flamenco music, the equally rapid evolution of flamenco dance emerged, which first appeared in a recognizable way as a structured dance in the 18th century.

Flamenco zapateado is an essential part of flamenco dance. In flamenco the dancer becomes a musician. His musical instrument is his feet with his flamenco shoes.

Flamenco zapateado has a very specific dance technique.

This technique includes numerous dance principles, from the body posture and mastery of each flamenco club to musicality, strength and speed.

The percussion of flamenco zapateado consists of sounds that are produced by hitting the ground with shoes. These sounds are achieved with the different parts of the flamenco shoes: the sole, the toe and the heel. The percussion sound is created with the sole of the shoes and the nails that the shoes wear on the toe and heel.