The formation of flamenco was heavily influenced by the Moors and Jews of the Andalusian region, and also absorbed a great deal of Roma (Gypsy) artistic elements. Most of the famous contemporary flamenco dancers are Roma. As the Spanish government promotes tourism in this way, flamenco has become a representative of Spanish dance and even Spanish culture.
There are 50 types of flamenco music, each with its own rhythmic pattern. Flamenco dance is an improvisational dance with no set movements, relying on the emotional interaction between the dancers and those singing and accompanying them, as well as the audience.
History
Blas Infante, in his book The Origins of Flamenco and the Secrets of Its Singing Style (Orígenes de lo flamenco y secreto del cante jondo?), argues that the "flamenco " is derived from the Spanish Arabic fellah mengu, fugitive peasant. He argues that after the triumph of Christian power over the Moors in Andalusia in the fifteenth century, many Moorish peasants mingled among the Roma to escape being forced to leave their homes or convert to Christianity. They pretended to be Roma and were able to continue their traditions, including singing.
Originally flamenco consisted only of flamenco singing, but later flamenco guitar accompaniment, rhythmic clapping or tapping, and dancing were added. Sometimes there is only flamenco dancing accompanied by guitar, but singing remains at the heart of the flamenco tradition. Accompanying instruments in recent years have included a percussive wooden box and rattles in the hands of the dancers.
Most of the details of the flamenco's evolution are untraceable for a variety of reasons, such as its grass-roots origins, its own divisions, the persecution of Moors, Roma and Jews by Christian rulers, and Roma traditions passed down by word of mouth.
A flamenco show in Seville, July 2005When the armies of Queen Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon conquered Granada, the last Moorish bastion in Spain, in 1492, a policy of religious toleration was declared, and the Moors and Jews were able to peacefully submit. Later, however, the Heretic Inquisition convinced Isabella and Ferdinand to renege on their word and force the Moors and Jews to either convert to Christianity or move to Africa. In 1499 alone 50,000 Moors were forced to be baptized. Large numbers of Moors, Jews, and Roma then fled to the countryside and mountains. This was the soil in which the art of flamenco was formed.
Because of this, there is a great deal of grief, anger, resistance, hope, and pride in flamenco art. The natural, almost raspy articulation of the flamenco singers reflects the environment in which the art originated and influenced other Spanish art forms.
Flamenco first appeared in writing in 1774, and the years 1869 to 1910 are known as the golden age of flamenco's development. During this period, flamenco was performed in many cafes. There was a clear distinction between male and female steps: the men focused on the movement of the steps, while the women focused on body language. At the same time, the flamenco guitar became a unique guitar, and there were also musicians who specialized in composing music for flamenco.
Appreciation
Flamenco dancers Belén Maya, photographed by Gilles Laland, 2001The best place to enjoy the most authentic flamenco performances is in Andalusia, the birthplace of flamenco in southern Spain, with the best ones in Sevilla, Granada and other places. Flamenco dance hall performances usually tickets cost a few dozen euros, but there are also some bars with flamenco performances, the charge is mainly the cost of drinks. It's easier to get into the flamenco spirit if you can high-five or shout "Ole" to the music.
Promotion
In recent years, because flamenco is a very personalized dance, help to ease the tension of urban life, flamenco dance in non-Spanish-speaking countries around the world has also been rapid promotion. In Asia, flamenco dancing has become a new form of recreation and fitness in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as Shanghai and Guangzhou in mainland China. There are thousands of flamenco dance schools in Tokyo alone. Taiwan singer Jolin Tsai sang the song "Pirates" when accompanied by flamenco dance.