Flamenco is a musical genre of Andalucia origin that always has maintained a close relation with Madrid. Different stores, schools, bars and restaurants in Madrid display this art, which is better witnessed at night. The restaurants with flamenco shows in Madrid usually start after 9 p.m. and go well into the morning. The majority of the establishments offer dinner and the show together. The show can consist of dancing and singing, or singing alone. |
| History of Flamenco |
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Flamenco was formed from a mixture of various cultures: Arab, Jewish and Christian. Flamenco developed as a musical style toward the end of the 15th century thanks to the gypsies in the south of Spain (Andalucia). The gypsy culture was a nomad culture, accustomed to traveling and borrowing indigenous types of music and reinterpreting them in their own way. Flamenco was the product of the fusion of different towns, their cultures and the interpretation the gypsies gave them in Andalucia.
| What is Flamenco? |
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At the beginning Flamenco consisted of one voice mixed with hand clapping. Later the guitar was incorporated. During the 20th century, the zapateo was introduced: male and female dancers tapped the steps of the dance accompanied by the music. This basic combination of elements, known as cuadro flamenco, was pulished as more additions were made to it: hand clappers to accompany the music and provide rhythm, male and female singers to accompany the main singer, the caja (box), a rectangular wooden percussion instrument, and the castañuelas (castanets), small wooden instruments played by hand. Flamenco currently is a combination of song, guitar and dance.
Flamenco is also an art because of the types of clothing it requires. The women usually wear long flowing skirts with bright colors, white shirts and shawls on their shoulders. The men usually wear black pants, white or spotted shirts and, on occasion, a small back bolero jacket on top of a belt. The men as well as the women wear heeled shoes to emphasize the dance steps.
| Flamenco Stores and Schools in Madrid |
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In Madrid there are various stores specialized in Flamenco clothing. The most well known are the Tienda de Flamenco Pastora del Rocío (Avenida Betanzos 4. Tel. 917 396 766. Metro Herrera Oria) and Yebra Flamenco (Calle Luis Vélez de Guevara 16. Tel. 913 693 212. Metro Tirso de Molina).
Some of the main Flamenco schools in Madrid are:
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Some of the most internationally-known flamenco artists are Paco de Lucía, Camarón de la Isla and Joaquín Cortés. For Flamenco beginners we recommend any album from Camerón de la Isla or Paco de Lucía. “Sueña la Alhambra” by Enrique Morente is also a good recommendation. The album compiles ten themes that range from the traditional to the most modern of the genre. Another great current Flamenco singer is José Mercé, who has filled the Royal Theater of Madrid on many occasions. |
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