April, the best month of Flamenco in Seville

With the arrival of april, Sevilla wears dots and flounced dress. With the fair as the main host, native and strangers are set to enjoy one of the great festivals of the Andalusian capital. Seven days in which traditions are at their peak.

For example, let’s talk about flamenco fashion. These days women wear ruffled dresses commemorating the dress of women who frequented the old cattle fairs, origin of the April Fair in Seville.

On the other hand, we also speak of 'rebujito' and 'pescaito', drink and traditional food this week.

And, of course, flamenco. Sevillanas, as heart of this art, will be hummed and danced by everyone in the Feria. But not only Sevillanas pays tribute this month of tradition in the capital, flamenco show in the city welcome tourists who want to enjoy the best of flamenco song and flamenco dance in Seville.

The Origin of Flamenco Dance

 

Flamenco is an artistic style that consists of inseparable music and dance from the regions of Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia in Spain. Although there is no absolute evidence about its origin, most historians believe that it was created by the Moorish and evolved later through an intense mixing of cultures: Muslims, Gypsies, Castilians and Jews.

By the end of the 19th century, the “Cafés Cantantes” (Singers’ Cafes) were very popular - the night bars where people could have drinks while enjoying the live music shows. These venues were the forges of flamenco art where firstly appeared professional flamenco singers. Until today, flamenco shows have been kept almost unaltered thanks to these old venues of flamenco dancing in Seville.

From 1920 to 1955, the flamenco shows performed at the Bullrings and Theatres were called “Flamenco Operas”. During those year, flamenco achieved a significant social and commercial success. Since the 50s a great number of anthropological and musicological researches on flamenco have been done while its influence has been extended globally. In 2010 UNESCO declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Today, everyone can enjoy the centuries-old history and culture of this art at a flamenco show.

The great dancers of flamenco

One of the most important thing in flamenco is the dance. In the tablaos (stages) of Seville can be seen big acts full of feelings and expressivity by the part of the artists.

Two of the best dancers nowadays are Sara Baras and Eva la Yerbabuena.

Sara Baras

Born in San Fernando, Cádiz, has achieved a great fame thank you for its art. Nowadays, in addition to being a dancer and choreographer she also has got her own flamenco company. She has been acting in the sceneries on all over the world receiving multitude prizes on her career.

Eva La Yerbabuena

Her parents are from Granada, but she was born in Germany. She started to dance when she was 12 years old, even though just when she was 15 years old, she jumped to the professional sceneries. Couple years ago, Eva acted in the Bienal of Flamenco presenting her flamenco spectacle in Seville, where she achieved huge applauses from the public.

On these days it is possible to discover promised young people on the sceneries of the stages. If you want to enjoy about the flamenco in Seville you can attend to some of our spectacles where dancing, singing and the touch of the best flamenco in the city is combined.

Flamenco Singer: Estrella Morente

The flamenco singer Estrella Morente, daughter of the singer Enrique Morente and the dancer Aurora Carbonell, has got flamenco on her blood. Since she was a little girl, she was taught to this art that has made her as one of the most known international artists of our time.

 

Even though she started singing when she was 7 years old, the first time she got known by the public was on the Alpine Skiing Championship in Sierra Nevada when she was 16 years old. Estrella Morente has made five albums between 2001 and 2012 and she has given concerts on scenarios in all over the world. Her voice, sweet and full of feelings, gives its own color for the seguiriyas, habaneras and all the rhythms that the singer dares to sing on the different events she takes part.

On September she participated together with the best flamenco singers, to the spectacles organized in Bienal. This meeting, Bienal that takes place every second year is a reference to all the flamenco lovers.

Flamenco – dance of emotions

Flamenco is not an ordinary dance but an art, inextricably linked with Spain and its age-old culture. Flamenco is not just an entertainment. From centuries, by the rhythms of the dance, singing and music Andalusian gypsies expressed their emotions. Flamenco contains not only the elements of Spanish culture, but also Hindu, Jewish, Persian, Arabic, Moorish, Egyptian and medieval Gregorian chant music.

Flamenco is characterized by a remarkable power of expression. During flamenco shows spectators  almost feel the need to join the dancers, emotions and feelings are floating in the air, and every movement and every sound emphasizes the sadness, anger or joy.

Flamenco is spontaneous, pure and danced straight from the heart. There is no place for conventions and schemes. Dancers do not hide the anger, but express it with violent gestures and rhythmic hitting heels. Dancers express love by literally wrapping their partner - sometimes you can get an impression that during dance partners fight with each other and express this “war” with gestures, mimics and rhythm..

Dance in Flamenco is the most important and is still evolving under the influence of new artists. In the dance the most important elements are: body, hands and feet. These last are the most important and most characteristic for this dance. It consists of zapateado and punteado. The first is a solo tap show, the second are the steps influenced by the rhythm of a guitar. Hand movements are more expressive for women and each finger is equally important. And finally the body that performs the movements smoothly or dynamically, is sometimes  the culmination of the whole dance.

Flamenco can be danced individually – and this solo dance is the most popular among all. It’s a show that is coming from the interior of the dancer. It’s often improvised, enriched by individual interpretation by the dancer and spontaneous - not subjected to any schematic movements.

The Art of the Flamenco Dance

When it comes to Spanish Culture, one of the main characteristics that stands out to everyone is 'The Art of the Flamenco Dance'. From sweeping arm movements to tapping feet, the Flamenco is a unique dance enjoyed by many people from different roots, especially throughout the southern region of Andalucía. Flamenco in Seville is extremely popular with many shows to visit and experiences to enjoy.

The Flamenco dance is a genuine Spanish art, an emotional and passionate dance that people are mesmerized and enjoy to watch as entertainment as well as part-take in the dancing experience. The flamenco is known to be one of the most visual and emotive forms of expression and to witness a passionate display of flamenco dance will leave most people feeling impassioned. The Tablao Flamenco Los Gallos in particular, has been in the elite part of flamenco due to the outstanding performances by the professional dancers and spectacular audience entertainment.

The Tablao Flamenco Los Gallos  includes a large cast of artists, many of which have won national and international awards. Many beginners have been given the opportunity to take to the stage and show their talent and original art to perform infront of hundreds of people at the most popular flamenco show in Seville. Such opportunities have lead to fantastic careers for young dancers; Well-known Flamenco dancers, who have become such ´celebrities‘ in Spain have taken their first dancing steps at this show. 

Not only is the aforementioned show is the oldest show in the city, but one of the oldest in the world. With over 45 years of experience, there is no wonder that it has became one of the most popular and loved attractions when it comes to Flamenco shows in Seville. 

So, to experience the most in-depth feeling of Spanish Culture why not discover the art of the flamenco dance, at one of the best flamenco nights in Seville by visiting the famous Santa Cruz Neighbourhood of Sevilla at TheTablao Flamenco Los Gallos.