Flamenco is a Spanish music and dance form developed in Romani communities in Andalusía, Spain.
The Romani people are traveling court musicians from Northern India who brought influences from the road through Persia, Turkey, the Balkans and Europe. The southern route brought influences from Israel, Arabia, and North Africa.
Flamenco came together in Andalucía, Spain. From there, it came to the Americas. Cuban traditions made their way back to Spain as Cantes de Ida y Vuelta (roundtrip songs). The Cajon (box drum) is now considered traditional Flamenco, but it comes from Cuban Rumba. Spanish Flamenco legend Paco de Lucia brought one home from a tour in Peru.
Purists complain that she is not from Andalucía, but Flamenco Pop singer Rosalía from Barcelona has led a global Flamenco Renaissance. It doesn’t have to be “pure” to be good, and when people talk about purity, you better check your pockets.
Flamenco NYC News
April 7, 2022
Flamenco Show
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca dance Spanish Flamenco at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Apr 5-10. From $51. 🇪🇸
Flamenco Festival
The 20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022 presents Compañía Manuel Liñán “Viva!” at New York City Center in Midtown, Fri, Apr 22 at 8pm. From $35. nycitycenter.org 🇪🇸
The 20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022 presents Gala Flamenca with Mercedes Ruiz, Eduardo Guerrero, María Moreno and special guest María Terremoto, Sat, Apr 23 at 8pm and Sun, Apr 24 at 3pm. From $35. nycitycenter.org 🇪🇸
20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022
Returns to New York City Center
The 20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022 with Mañuel Liñán and a Gala Flamenca is at New York City Center in Midtown, Fri-Sun, Apr 22-24. From $35. nycitycenter.org 🇪🇸
“Viva!” is Flamenco in Drag with Manuel Liñán and six men performing as women. In Spain, Flamenco is a very traditional community, so for Spain this is wild. But the men can really dance. It’s great to feel the joy of being whoever you want to be.
Gala Flamenca is an exquisite taste of the many flavors of Spanish Flamenco. Mercedes Ruiz is known for her virtuosity. Eduardo Guerrero is loved for his wild solos. María Moreno dances the traditional Flamenco of Cádiz. María Terremoto is a rising star, the youngest winner of the Giraldillo Award for New Artists at the Seville Flamenco Biennial which is one of the world’s most respected Flamenco festivals.
In the past, present, and future of Flamenco, there is something for everyone at New York City Center. ¡Olé!
NYC Flamenco Presenters
- Flamenco Festival (Madrid) * 🇪🇸
- Flamenco Festival NY City Center *
- Carnegie Hall *
- Centro Español de Queens centroespanoldequeens.org * 🇪🇸
- Flamenco Latino *
- Jazz at Lincoln Center *
- Joyce Theater *
- La Nacional 🇪🇸
- Menkes * 🇪🇸
- Schimmel Center *
- World Music Institute *
* Thank you for sponsoring New York Latin Culture Magazine.
The Bryant Park Dance Party 2022 is Back with Talia-Castro Pozo
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Flamenco Rumba
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
African Fusion
Thu, May 12, 2022
Cumbia
BRYANT PARK
Midtown, Manhattan
🇨🇴🇨🇺🇵🇦🇵🇪🇵🇷🇻🇪
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20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022 Returns to New York City Center
Friday-Sunday, April 22-24, 2022
NEW YORK CITY CENTER
Midtown
🇪🇸
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Bárbara Martínez Palo Seco Flamenco at Flushing Town Hall
Saturday, May 14, 2022
FLUSHING TOWN HALL
Flushing, Queens
🇦🇷🇻🇪🇪🇸
Continue Reading Bárbara Martínez Palo Seco Flamenco at Flushing Town Hall
New York Flamenco
CCC St Veronica
The Creative Cultural Center St Veronica is the home of the Arts Flamenco organization and dance studio. It’s one of NYC’s few studios that allows Flamenco dancers to practice. artsflamenco.org 🇪🇸
The Year in Flamenco NYC
April Flamenco NYC
Soledad Barrio
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca dance Spanish Flamenco at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Apr 5-10. From $51. 🇪🇸
Flamenco Festival
The 20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022 presents Compañía Manuel Liñán “Viva!” at New York City Center in Midtown, Fri, Apr 22 at 8pm. From $35. nycitycenter.org 🇪🇸
The 20th Flamenco Festival NYC 2022 presents Gala Flamenca with Mercedes Ruiz, Eduardo Guerrero, María Moreno and special guest María Terremoto, Sat, Apr 23 at 8pm and Sun, Apr 24 at 3pm. From $35. nycitycenter.org 🇪🇸
May Flamenco NYC
Workshop/Performance
A Palo Seco presents a Flamenco workshop and performance at Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens on Sat, May 14 at 1pm (Workshop $5) and 2:15pm (performance $12). 🇪🇸
June Flamenco NYC
Fronteras
Flamenco Vivo Fronteras is at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Jun 21-26, 2022. 🇪🇸
Previously in Flamenco NYC
Flamenco Vivo’s Peña Flamenca NYC brings Spanish Flamenco Tablao to the 4W43 Ballroom in Midtown, Manhattan on Fri, Mar 18 at 7:30pm. $35. 🇪🇸
Nélida Tirado: Dime Quién Soy dances traditional Spanish Flamenco con sabor Caribeño for the CUNY Dance Initiative at Hostos Center in Mott Haven, The Bronx on Sat, Mar 12 at 7:30pm. Free with registration. 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Danza España presents Mosaico Flamenco at the Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside, Queens, Fri-Sun, Mar 4-20. From $40. 🇪🇸
February 2022
Nélida Tirado: Travesia Flamenca brings traditional Spanish Flamenco to Joe’s Pub in NoHo on Sun, Feb 27 at 7pm (6pm doors). $30. 🇪🇸🇵🇷
Nueva York Flamenco City & Juana Cala do the Flamenco at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Sat, Feb 26 at 8pm. $15. 🇪🇸🇧🇷🇺🇸
Flamenco: inside/out (Cristian Puig, Peter Basil with Leslie Roybal) plays Spanish Flamenco at Bar LunÀtico in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn on Wed, Feb 23 from 9-11:30pm. $10. 🇪🇸🇦🇷🇲🇽
Flamenco Vivo Tablao is at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village, on Sat, Feb 19, 2022. $50. 🇪🇸
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Nella Rojas, the Venezuelan Flamenco Jazz singer and 2019 Latin Grammy Best New Artist, at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village on Mon, Feb 14 at 8pm & 10:30pm (6pm & 10pm doors). From $25. 🇻🇪
January 2022
Nélida Tirado Flamenco performs New York Puerto Rican Flamenco at Chelsea Table and Stage in Chelsea, Manhattan on Sat, Jan 29 at 7pm. 🇵🇷
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca dance Spanish Flamenco at The Joyce in Chelsea for two weeks, Tue-Sun, Jan 25 – Feb 6, 2022. From $26. 🇪🇸
Flamenco Vivo Musicians of Flamenco are at 4W43 Gallery in Midtown on Fri, Jan 21, 2022. $35. 🇪🇸
December 2021
Sonia Olla & Ismael Fernandez perform Spanish Flamenco at Drom in the East Village on Sat, Dec 11 at 8pm (7pm doors). 🇪🇸
Flamenco Vivo Holiday Fiesta, a Zambomba, the Andalusian Christmas caroling tradition, is at 4W43 Gallery in Midtown on Fri, Dec 10 at 7:30pm. $35. 🇪🇸
Albert Marques leads a Mediterranean Dialogues Flamenco Jazz Jam at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Thu, Dec 9 at 7pm. Free. 🇪🇸
The Albert Alabedra Trio plays Spanish Flamenco influenced by Miles Davis “Sketches of Spain” with a Spanish wine tasting at The Cecil Steakhouse (Minton’s) in Harlem, on Wed, Dec 8 at 7pm. $75. thececilharlem.com 🇪🇸
Barbara Martínez records personalized vinyl records that make very special holiday gifts, on Sun, Dec 5. Preorder only $20. 🇻🇪🇦🇷🇪🇸
Barbara Martínez sings Spanish Flamenco at Addictive Wine and Tapas in Jackson Heights, Queens on Sat, Dec 4 at 8pm. Free. 🇻🇪🇦🇷🇪🇸
November 2021
Bárbara Martínez sings Spanish Flamenco for Alegrías at La Nacional in Chelsea on Sat, Nov 27 at 8pm. 🇪🇸🇻🇪🇦🇷
Rosario Flores sings Flamenco Pop at The Town Hall in Midtown, Manhattan on Thu, Nov 4 at 8pm. From $79. 🇪🇸
Alberto Alabedra plays Spanish Flamenco at Pangea in the East Village on Thu, Nov 4 at 7pm. $25. pangeanyc.com 🇪🇸
October 2021
The Flamenco Vivo Gala is at the Hotel Chantelle Rooftop in the Lower East Side on Thu, Oct 21 at 7:30pm. From $150. flamenco-vivo.org 🇪🇸
Lara Bello and Granada Sounds sing Spanish Flamenco at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Sun, Oct 17 at 7pm. $10. 🇪🇸
The Flamenco Certamen USA 2021 Finals are at the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center on Fri, Oct 15 at 7pm. $35. flamenco-vivo.org 🇪🇸
Albert Marques leads a Flamenco-Jazz jam at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Thu, Oct 14 at 7pm. $10. 🇪🇸.
Sonia Olla & Ismael Fernández and other Spanish immigrants celebrate Indigenous People Day at Columbus Circle on Mon, Oct 11 at 4:30pm. FREE. 🇪🇸
September 2021
The Albert Alabedra Band plays Spanish flamenco jazz at Drom in the East Village on Thu, Sep 23 at 7pm (6:30pm doors). 🇪🇸
Flamenco Festival NYC
Flamenco Festival New York City Center, Flamenco Festival Madrid and World Music Institute are New York Latin Culture Magazine flamenco festival sponsors.
Flamenco Artists
Nilko Andreas Plays Cumbia for the Bryant Park Dance Party
Thursday, May 12, 2022
BRYANT PARK DANCE PARTY
Midtown
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Nélida Tirado Teaches Flamenco Rumba at the Bryant Park Dance Party
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
BRYANT PARK
Midtown
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Bárbara Martínez Palo Seco Flamenco at Flushing Town Hall
Saturday, May 14, 2022
FLUSHING TOWN HALL
Flushing, Queens
🇦🇷🇻🇪🇪🇸
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Nella Rojas Sings Latin Jazz for Valentines at The Blue Note
Valentines Day
Monday, February 14, 2022
BLUE NOTE
Greenwich Village
🇻🇪
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Alejandro Sanz Sings Spanish Pop at Radio City Music Hall
Sunday, October 10, 2021
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
Midtown, Manhattan
🇪🇸
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Ana Crismán Streams a Special Concert of Her Andalusían Flamenco Harp Recorded in Spain
worldmusicinstitute.org 🇪🇸🎵 streaming from Friday, March 26, 2021
Niño de Elche & Leonor Leal Present “Colombiana” a Flamenco Show About Caribbean Influences
WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE
LE POISSON ROUGE
Greenwich Village, NYC
Saturday, March 14, 2020
🇪🇸
Buika is the Spanish Queen of Flamenco Soul
March 12, 2020
CARNEGIE HALL
Midtown, Manhattan
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Sponsored by
Carnegie Hall
Continue Reading Buika is the Spanish Queen of Flamenco Soul
Los Aurora
Sunday, March 29, 2020
WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE
LE POISSON ROUGE
Greenwich Village, NYC
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An entertaining blend of flamenco, jazz and rock that is part of the Nuevo Flamenco movement out of Barcelona, Spain.
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Sponsored by
World Music Institute
Rocío Molina is Caída del Cielo “Fallen from Heaven”
POSTPONED TO FALL
Friday, March 27, 2020
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
NEW YORK CITY CENTER
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Sponsored by
New York City Center
Continue Reading Rocío Molina is Caída del Cielo “Fallen from Heaven”
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Sunday, January 26, 2020
62nd GRAMMY AWARDS
Los Angeles, California
The Mexican rumba flamenco duo’s “Mettavolution” won Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Rosalía
Sunday, January 26, 2020
62nd GRAMMY AWARDS
Los Angeles, California
The Spanish flamenco pop singer performed and “El Mal Querer” won Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca ‘Entre Tú y Yo’
Tue-Sun, Nov 19 – Dec 1, 2019
CHELSEA, NYC ~ This flamenco show about prowling for partners feels like a Spanish flamenco bar with star power at the Joyce Theater
Continue Reading Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca ‘Entre Tú y Yo’
Flamenco Legends: Paco de Lucía Project
Sunday, October 20, 2019
PURCHASE COLLEGE ARTS CENTER
Purchase, NYC (White Plains)
Javier Limón, the world’s best flamenco producer, brings “the best flamenco group in the world”
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Vahagni’s ‘The Life and Death of a Great Matador’ tribute to a great guitarist
Friday, October 18, 2019
DIGITAL RELEASE ~ LA-based guitarist Vahagni releases a compelling flamenco tribute to his late father, the first guitar soloist for the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia
Continue Reading Vahagni’s ‘The Life and Death of a Great Matador’ tribute to a great guitarist
Tablao Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
Wed-Fri, October 16-18, 2019
GREENWICH VILLAGE ~ One of New York City’s leading flamenco dance companies brings the Andalucían style of dancing in bars to Le Poisson Rouge
The Paco de Lucía Project
Sunday, October 13, 2019
WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE
SYMPHONY SPACE
Upper West Side, NYC
Producer Javier Limón reassembled the last touring band of the greatest flamenco guitarist in history
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Diego el Cigala
Friday, November 22, 2019
THEATRE AT WESTBURY
WESTBURY, Long Island
The master at blending flamenco with rumba, tango and salsa. “Lágrimas Negras”
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Jesús Carmona
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center
Charismatic Spanish flamenco dance star of the new generation brings one of his more personal shows to New York. Arooj Aftab opens with Sufi rock.
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Vicente Amigo’s “Tauromagia” is One of the Classic Flamenco Albums
March, 4, 2016
THE TOWN HALL
Midtown, NYC
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Original Sponsor
Carnegie Hall
Continue Reading Vicente Amigo’s “Tauromagia” is One of the Classic Flamenco Albums
Israel Fernandez sings Spanish flamenco at Joe’s Pub
NOHO; Sun, Mar 10, 2019; WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE, FLAMENCO FESTIVAL, Spanish Romani flamenco live music ~ His third album ‘Universo Pastora’ pays tribute to Pastora Pavón (La Niña de los Peines).
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Continue Reading Israel Fernandez sings Spanish flamenco at Joe’s Pub
Ismael Fernández, Spanish Flamenco
Thursday, March 7, 2019
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
JOE’S PUB, PUBLIC THEATER
NoHo, NYC
The musical half of NYC’s Sonia Olla & Ismael Fernández Flamenco Company presents his new album “Trato” (Deal)
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Flamenco Festival New York City Center 2019 Sara Baras ‘Sombras’
Thursday-Sunday, March 7-10, 2019
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL NYC
NEW YORK CITY CENTER
Midtown, NYC
Sara Baras, one of the world’s great flamenco dancers (really) plays with gender in the shadows of flamenco for her company’s 20th Anniversary
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Sponsored by
New York City Center
Continue Reading Flamenco Festival New York City Center 2019 Sara Baras ‘Sombras’
Farruquito
Friday, February 22, 2019
THE TOWN HALL
Midtown, NYC
“Greatest flamenco dancer of the century” (The New York Times)
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Compañia Irene Rodríguez
Friday-Sunday, January 18-20, 2019
JOYCE THEATER, NYC
One of Cuba’s leading flamenco dance companies returns to New York
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Dorantes
Thursday-Saturday, March 22-24, 2018
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
DIZZY’S CLUB
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
Columbus Circle, NYC
One of the great flamenco pianists plays a concert of “Flamenco Meets Jazz.”
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Sponsored by
¡Jazz at Lincoln Center!
Andalusían Voices: Linares, Heredia, & Arcángel
Saturday, March 17, 2018
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL NYC
CARNEGIE HALL
Midtown, NYC
Carmen Linares, Marina Heredia, Arcángel with Ana Morales
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Sponsored by
Carnegie Hall
Continue Reading Andalusían Voices: Linares, Heredia, & Arcángel
Angelita Montoya
Friday, March 16, 2018
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
ROULETTE
Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
From one of the great Spanish flamenco families, she built this show around the female poets of the Generation of 27
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Niño de Elche 2018
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
SCHIMMEL CENTER
Financial District, NYC
This really unique Spanish Flamenco singer blends in experimental rock, electronics and multimedia
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Compañía Eva Yerbabuena
Friday-Saturday, March 9-10, 2018
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
NEW YORK CITY CENTER
Midtown, NYC
Yerbabuena celebrates her company’s 20th anniversary with “Carne y Hueso” (Flesh and Bone)
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
José Antonio Rodríguez
Saturday, March 3, 2018
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
ROULETTE
Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
One of the great Spanish contemporary Flamenco guitarists.
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¡New York Latin Culture Sponsor!
Ballet Nacional de España Flamenco Festival New York City Center
MIDTOWN, Fri-Sun, Mar 2-4, 2018 ~ The world’s premiere Flamenco dance company visits New York.
# spanish flamenco festival dance
Continue Reading Ballet Nacional de España Flamenco Festival New York City Center
Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca ‘Intimo’ at the Joyce
CHELSEA, Tue-Sat, Feb 13-25, 2018, Spanish flamenco dance theater ~ One of NYC’s great flamenco dancers presents her latest show.
Continue Reading Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca ‘Intimo’ at the Joyce
What is Flamenco?
Flamenco is a Spanish art form with influences from many cultures. What became flamenco originated in Asia with the Romani people of Rajasthan in northwest India who were traveling court musicians. You can recognize the fiery flamenco hands in Indian classical dance.
The tradition absorbed many influences on the journey from India to Andalucía, the southern tip of Spain, and the very end of the European peninsula. Andalucía was the center of Islamic, Spain. You can hear the call to prayer in flamenco. Being only 9 miles from Africa, Andalucía absorbed African culture too. The “jaleo” dancing with wild abandon and feeding off the cheers of the audience is a form of African call and response. We don’t know if that element came from Africa or people just do the same things everywhere.
From Andalucía, proto-flamenco came to the Americas, absorbed American traditions in Cuba and Peru, absorbed jazz and made the round trip to Spain where these American traditions became standard flamenco.
NYC’s big flamenco celebration is the Flamenco Festival NYC in March. There is regularly flamenco tablao at New York City’s Spanish social clubs, La Nacional in Chelsea, Manhattan and Centro Español de Queens in Astoria, Queens.
Flamenco is “pure” Spanish, Romani, African, Muslim, Jewish, Persian, Indian, Cuban, Peruvian & American
Flamenco is one of the those things that proves that among humans, nothing is pure. We are mixes of one another.
Spaniards will tell you that flamenco is theirs, and it is, but it is really a blend of many cultures. Flamenco is a Spanish blend of Romani, Muslim, African, Jewish, Persian, Indian and even Cuban and Peruvian traditions.
The Romani people, traveling court musicians of northern India, carried their music to the end of the world, Andalusía. They absorbed many traditions along the way. You can hear the Muslim call to prayer in the music. The fiery hands of flamenco dancers have an obvious root in Indian temple dancing. I recognize flamenco hands from my childhood in Bangkok. Thai classical dancing also has an Indian root.
Columbus, conquistadors and then Spanish treasure galleons sailed to the New World from Andalusían ports. Romani people and their music came along.
In Cuba, the American end of the Spanish slaver/galleon route, flamenco guitar mixed with African drum into the spectrum of what we now call jazz and Latin music. That is why jazz and Latin music, even reggaeton, blends so well with flamenco. There is already a common root.
Cuban flamenco traditions also went back to Spain as cantes de ida y vuelta flamenco (round trip songs). The Cajon, the box drum that is now considered a standard flamenco instrument, is an Afro-Peruvian instrument that Spanish flamenco guitar legend Paco de Lucía brought back to Spain from a South American tour in the 1980s.
We are mixes of each other and have been migrating since we could walk. Those who claim purity are often setting you up to be robbed or abused. Don’t believe it. Anyway, the mix is what makes us beautiful.
Flamenco is a Family Tradition
The roots of Flamenco are medieval. The Romani people were traveling court musicians from northern India. Flamenco is originally, and in some ways still, a family tradition.
Flamenco Shows
New York is a city of theaters and we have gotten used to seeing flamenco in theaters like New York City Center, the Joyce Theater and other venues. These are choreographed flamenco shows. The stage form of ópera flamenca begins around 1910.
Flamenco Bars
In Andalusía, Spain’s southern province, you can see flamenco tablao in legendary bars. This is Tablao El Cardenal in Córdoba, Andalusía, Spain.
Flamenco families learned long ago that they could make a couple of bucks dancing for travelers in the local tavern. Flamenco tablao is improvised, though it is still a show.
The Golden Age of Flamenco (1869-1910) was in these bars or “cafés cantantes” (music cafés).
In New York there is flamenco tablao at La Nacional in Chelsea; Circulo Español in Astoria, Queens; and a few other places around town.
Flamenco Families
John Singer Sargent’s large painting “El Jaleo” (93 in x 138 in) from 1882 gets closer to home. Hispanic Society in Washington Heights, NYC has a smaller version “The Spanish Dance.”
Sargent made the painting after a trip through Spain and North Africa in 1879. Flamenco’s origins in Spain are many hundreds of years earlier, but we are closer to the root.
The artist may have had a stage in mind, but the room also looks like a cellar, a large space where a family could gather and make some noise without attracting unwanted attention. Romani are still today a marginalized people. In marginalized communities, you want to do your thing without drawing the authorities.
“Jaleo” means a ruckus, racket or pandemonium. To some of us that’s just a party. “Jaleo de Jerez” is a particular Spanish dance. “Jaleo” also refers to surprisingly complex form of flamenco clapping, stomping, clicking and shouting out support.
Back in the day there was no internet, television, radio or movies. Only large towns might have a theater. At the end of the day there was basically nothing to do. So after dinner families would get together and entertain themselves.
Dancing in front of your family is an expression of membership in the family, but also your individuality within the family. If you made your living as an entertainer, this was also a chance to practice. If your crush was visiting, dancing was an opportunity to show off without your parents getting mad at you. Children who heard these rhythms since the womb would dance for the delight and approval of family elders.
So this is how flamenco begins. It’s a family celebration that provided entertainment and passed family traditions to the young. The same type of thing occurs around the world and still does today.
Look at the dancer. She is dancing flamenco, but could be practicing her Balanchine ballet technique hands. She could be dancing Cuban rumba, Puerto Rican bomba or reggaeton. We do the same thing today when we jump out and dance inside a circle or two lines of dancers, just like they did on the Soul Train dance television show in the 1970s.
We found Sargent’s “El Jaleo” while searching for the meaning of El Jaleo in the classic Dominican merengue “Compadre Pedro Juan.” You can translate it literary, or as a call for a particular style of merengue, but what the singer really means is to dance freely, with abandon.
That is what flamenco is all about. It’s an invitation to both connect with your community, and lose yourself. So don’t just sit there. Show your stuff. Get up and baile el jaleo (dance the jaleo).
¡Olé!