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Flamenco NYC

Flamenco in NYC is perhaps best represented by the Flamenco Festival New York. It brings the top Flamenco artists from Spain to New York City, on their way to touring the rest of the Americas.

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana and Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca were long NYC’s leading Flamenco dance companies, but there are others now. We also have good Flamenco dancers from the Caribbean and South America. We were all New Spain during the Colonial Era.

There is Flamenco Tablao at the Spanish social clubs, La Nacional in Chelsea, and Centro Español de Queens in Astoria.

Thank you Nélida Tirado for the cover photo.

NYC Flamenco Festivals

NYC Flamenco Presenters

NYC Flamenco Companies

NYC Flamenco Artists

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NYC Flamenco News

Flamenco nyc Archive

November 2022

UNESCO’s International Flamenco Day is Wednesday, November 16, 2022. 🇪🇸

September 2022

Antonio Rey plays his 2020 Latin Grammy-winning Flamenco guitar for Robert Browning Associates at Roulette in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 8pm. From $30. robertbrowningassociates.com 🇪🇸

The Global Citizen Festival 2022 is headlined by Mariah Carey, Rosalía and others on the Great Lawn in Central Park on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 4pm (2pm gates). Ticketed, but free (App download required). 🇬🇭🇮🇳🇪🇸🇻🇪

June 2022

Flamenco Vivo Fronteras is at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Jun 21-26, 2022. 🇪🇸

May 2022

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). 🇪🇸

April 2022

Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca dance Spanish Flamenco at the Joyce Theater in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Apr 5-10. From $51. 🇪🇸

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 🇪🇸

March 2022

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). 🇪🇸

Spanish Flamenco

Flamenco has become a performing art presented on stage, but is originally a Romani community drum, song, and dance tradition. It’s an expression of family, faith, community and love. The Romani people were originally traveling court musicians in Northern India. Romani families learned they could make money by letting tourists watch their traditions. That evolved into the tablao Flamenco bars, and then professional stage presentations.

Traditional Flamenco reached its peak development in Andalusía at the southern tip of Spain, just nine miles from Mother Africa. Like Spain itself, Flamenco has a lot of Arab influence from the time of Islamic Spain, one of the three great European civilizations. The Flamenco cry sounds like the Islamic call to prayer.

Traditions from the Americas also influence Spanish Flamenco. Cantes de ida y vuelta (roundtrip songs) brought mostly Cuban influences back to Spain. The cajon drum box is a contemporary addition from Peru.

The original Flamenco drum is our hands and feet. American Tap Dance, Mexican Zapateado (Fandango), and Argentine Gaucho Malambo may be derivatives.

“Duende” is a Spanish concept of being possessed by the forces of nature. In the Americas, Indigenous and African Diaspora communities have our own similar concepts. Insiders know that being possessed while dancing is a great honor. Outsiders fear it. There is nothing to fear. It’s just a trance state of relaxed concentration.

Flamenco Now

Flamenco is a Romani community drum, song and dance tradition from Andalusía, the autonomous community at the southern tip of Spain, just nine miles from Mother Africa.

The Romani are traveling court musicians originally from Northern India. The Flamenco absorbed influences they brought from the northern route through Persia, Turkey, the Balkans and Europe; and the southern route through Arab lands, Israel, 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 Peru. Spanish Flamenco guitar legend Paco de Lucia brought one home from a tour. Cuba and Mexico have their own forms of cajons. It’s really an African Diaspora instrument.

Flamenco Pop singer Rosalía from Barcelona has led a global Flamenco Renaissance. Purists complain that she is not from Andalucía, but creativity doesn’t have to be “pure” to be good, and when people talk about purity, you better check your pockets.

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

Flamenco Yolanda Osuna on stage (Bodgancaraman/Dreamstime)
Flamenco Yolanda Osuna on stage (Bodgancaraman/Dreamstime)

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

Flamenco bar Tablao El Cardenal in Córdoba, Spain (Vdvtut/Dreamstime)
Flamenco bar Tablao El Cardenal in Córdoba, Spain (Vdvtut/Dreamstime)

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!

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