Most people know about flamenco as a dance from Spain. But did you know that there are actually more styles of Spanish dances?
Whether you are a dancer, a language student, culture buff, a school teacher or theatre programmer, you can get to know and enjoy the cultural diversity of Spain – through dance, song and music!
Here’s a quick overview of 4 specialities of Spanish Dance I’d like to introduce you to:
- Flamenco
- Classical Spanish Dance (Clásico Español or Danza Estilizada)
- The Bolero School (Escuela Bolera), balletic with castanets
- Spanish Folk (each region has its own dance)
A. If you are not a dancer, but a cultural enthusiast
You don’t have to be a dancer to experience Spanish dance. Many people I meet simply love the vibrant culture of Spain. Dance is one way that lets you experience Spanish culture – watch it, listen to the music and this is an easy first encounter. Going further, you might be piqued about the lyrics and language, or wonder about the cultural stories. One thing leads you to another.
B. If you ARE a flamenco dancer and don’t yet have exposure to other styles
As a flamenco dancer, getting to know the other genres of Spanish Dance gives you CONTEXT about what you are doing. Because flamenco didn’t ‘happen’ on its own. It has been influenced by the folk, the traditions and culture of the land. It continues to interact till today. So our world widens when we can gain greater perspective and situate things came from, or understand what we are dancing.
Some examples are how a typical flamenco dance called Alegrías, has been influenced by the folk dance, the Jota. I love the flamenco Bamberas musicality, and its melodies were derived from folk, put into the current 12-beat flamenco rhythm and got popularised by certain famous singers.
I always feel the more we experience different dance forms, the more we train our body and mind to be versatile and adaptable. Plus, we benefit from applying our learning from one form to another. For example, how you do a classical Spanish turn cleanly with posture and strength is going to help the quality of your flamenco turns too. At its core, it’s about body self-awareness and control.
C. If you are en educator bringing the joy of culture and experiences to young minds
Hey educators, are looking for exposure for your school students, it’s great to get to know that there are actually different dance styles. Because that gives you choices on what you can educate your students in.
Showcasing just one form may not be complete or holistic. Showcasing different forms gives a broader and richer sense of Spain’s culture and heritage.
Each form looks and sounds different and has its character. So personally, when I’m conducting a programme for schools, or when I start the very first lesson of my classes, I like to give a brief overview. That way, students are not just moving bodies, but are also engaging their brains to understand the background of what they are doing.
D. If you are an arts producer or programmer with a mission to bring arts to the people
By getting to know the different styles , its distinctive features and backgrounds, you can acquire knowledge of this art form. That greatly opens the options for you to consider when you are programming.
Post notes
This post is still in-the-making. I’ll be adding photos, videos as that will give you an idea of the distinguishing features. This will help you know how to identify the styles.
Feel free to let me know what you’d like to know, and I’ll look into it.
