Originally flamenco dancing was not set to music; it was only singing and clapping of hands called “toque de palmas." Some flamenco dancing still follows ancient tradition, but the use of guitars and other musical instruments has become more popular in modern flamenco.
Traditional flamenco dancers rarely received any formal training. Instead, flamenco was passed down from friends, relatives and neighbors.
While some flamenco musicians and dancers still learn the flamenco on their own, most modern flamenco artists are professionally trained.
Flamenco dancing can have many different purposes. Whether the dance is intended to be entertaining, romantic or comforting, flamenco is a very emotional style of dance.
Flamenco dancers try to express their deepest emotions by using body movements and facial expressions. As the dancers perform, they may also clap their hands or kick their feet. Many dancers also snap small percussion handheld instruments called "castanets."
To the annoyance of Flamenco purists, this meant that Flamenco was becoming more of a tourist attraction than an expressive art form. It was also during this time that Flamenco guitarists became famous in their own right and so Flamenco guitar was transformed into its very own art form. One of the most famous Flamenco Golden Age singers was Silverio Franconetti, who was one of the first Flamenco singers who could sing all the 'palos' (styles of Flamenco music) equally well.
From 1922, Flamenco entered what is called the 'Theatrical Period' of Flamenco. Flamenco became even more commercialised, with the small, intimate cafes cantantes being replaced by much larger, theatre-like venues.
The most famous artist of this time was Pepe Marchena. Pepe Marchena was a Flamenco singer from Seville who sang in a sweet, falsetto voice. He was very influential in Flamenco as he was one of the first singers to sing standing up, and not sitting in a chair as had been the norm. Pepe Marchena also liked to wear a bizarre outfit, such as riding clothes.
Today, Flamenco has changed somewhat. People who want to become a Flamenco dancer, guitarist or singer are professionally trained. Traditionally, Flamenco artists would learn simply by experiencing other performers.
There are now three distinct ways to see a Flamenco performance. The first is the most organic and dynamic, but also the most difficult to find. It's called a 'Juerga' and is simply a spontaneous exhibition of Flamenco, like a jam-session between musicians.
The two other forms are more commercial. You could go and see a professional Flamenco concert which is much more formal and normally includes several singers, guitarists and dancers, unlike a Juerga which would only have one set.
Flamenco can also been seen in a theatre, although these performances tend to show the Flamenco technique in a setting similar to that of a Ballet performance, an exhibition of skill rather than a conveyance of feeling.
The Flamenco Dance is an expression of emotion with great use of the arms and rhythmical stamping of the Flamenco dancer's feet. However there are many different variations of the dance.
'Flamenco puro' or Pure Flamenco dancing is the form that is closest to its roots in Andalusian gypsy culture. It is always improvised by the dancer. This is the form of Flamenco in which you are most likely to find Flamenco dancers in extravagant, frilly dresses.
Classical Flamenco dancing is the type of Flamenco that most professional Flamenco dance troupes use. It is very Ballet like, with little movement in the dancer's hips, unlike in Flamenco puro.
The highly technical form of Flamenco is called Modern Flamenco. A Modern Flamenco dancer has to study the Spanish dance for many years, both with and without props like fans and castanets. The focus of Modern Flamenco dancing is on fast yet accurate footwork.
Finally, there is 'Nuevo Flamenco' or New Flamenco which is a very modern, jazzy version of the Spanish dance. New Flamenco tends to be choreographed and the dancers often wear much plainer costumes than those of the Flamenco Puro dance style.
Flamenco has been considered to be so important that it has been deemed a UNESCO Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
http://www.butfieldbreach.co.uk/overseas-properties/
No comments:
Post a Comment