Did you know that 16 November is Flamenco Day?
At the proposal of the Junta de Andalucía, flamenco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010 in Naibori (Kenya) and on 16 November is celebrated the International Day of Flamenco, a date that seeks to remember the exact day on which UNESCO recognized the Andalusian culture as a World Heritage Site.
But what is flamenco?
In flamenco, two types of characters are important: the singer and the bailaor or bailaora. The former is seated and may or may not be accompanied by the Spanish guitar. On the other hand, the bailaor or bailaora, who by means of his or her body will externalise the feeling expressed in the lyrics and voice of the singer.
Undoubtedly, flamenco is an art, where the singing, guitar playing and dancing of the different cultures that coexisted in Andalusia in the 15th century are combined.
Types of flamenco dances and main performer
- Cantiña: It represents the most exact dance form of the Cadiz environment.
- Alegría: It seeks to transmit joy and happiness with the body, but the dancer can also express elegance, coquetry and seduction.
- Bulerías: Another type of dance of a jocular and fast type, it is performed in the middle of a semicircle, where each dancer does some steps in the centre. It is the closing dance of every flamenco performance.
- Fandangos: This is the typical fandango dance with certain characteristics typical of flamenco. Nowadays it is considered as one of the most important performances within the flamenco classification.
- Tangos: It is one of the most typical and fundamental styles of flamenco, however, they are considered to be of second order, since according to their characteristics they can also be of different types.
- Sevillanas: A gallant dance where seduction plays an important role, it is another of the typical flamenco styles and one of the most popular in television productions where this dance appears.
It is also important to remember who are the greatest flamenco performers in history:
- Paco de Lucía.
- Camarón de la Isla.
- Enrique Morente.
- José Mercé.
- Carmen Linares.
- Sara Baras.
- Carmen Amaya.
- Joaquín Pedraja Reyes, whose stage name is Joaquín Cortés.
What do you do on Flamenco Day?
The most appropriate thing to do is to attend a flamenco performance. In Spain it is very common to attend a “tablao flamenco” or even some venues often put on flamenco performances.
That is why Inmsol advises you to participate in the flamenco workshop that takes place on the 16th of November in the centre of Granada.
It is a very universal art and its history is worth celebrating.
Discover the programme by clicking on this l
Alicia Morales. “Desobediente”
