If you have ever been to the streets of Spain, you will feel a different warmth and passion in the tunes there. Which is called the soul of flamenco. In which the emotions are reflected through rhythm, clapping, foot beats and facial expressions. They tell a whole story, not just dance. Flamenco is not just a dance, but the soul of Spain, which has become its identity for centuries.
Flamenco is considered to have originated from Andalusia, the southern region of Spain. The soil here, the people here and their emotions all together gave birth to this dance. This is a dance form in which dance, singing and music go together. Everyone who sees it says he feels it.
When a flamenco dancer takes the stage, there is a story behind every beat, every turn and every look. Which includes feelings of love, pain or sometimes even rebellion. This dance is not a game of rote movements, but a volcano of emotions that erupts with every beat.
Very few people know that the roots of flamenco extend to India. When the Gypsy community migrated from India to Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, they took with them their musical and rhythmic traditions. Later, when he reached Spain, his music got mixed with the folk tunes and Arabic tunes there. This confluence became the foundation of flamenco. Historians say that when the Arabs arrived in Spain in 711 AD, they deeply influenced the culture of Andalusia with their music, poetry and instruments. This combination with the rhythm and emotions of the Gypsies was such that even today a glimpse of India, Arabia and Europe is visible together in flamenco.
Women usually come on stage wearing long dresses with frills, hair decorated with flowers and fans in their hands. The waves of her clothes also dance with her every turn and beat. At the same time, men look very confident in tight pants, jackets and caps.
The word ‘flamenco’ was first used in the 18th century. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word ‘felah-mengu’, which means “wandering person”. This name was associated with those gypsy people, who used to roam from one place to another and captivate everyone with their music. Today flamenco is not limited to just Spain. It has become a global art. Flamenco artists and lovers can be found in America, Japan, France, and even India. It has now also become a part of jazz, pop and fusion music.
The Spanish cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada are still considered the centers of flamenco. Here, guitar tunes echo in every street as the evening approaches. Some dancer or the other is seen molding his emotions into the rhythm of his steps.
In 2010, UNESCO declared Flamenco an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Flamenco is actually a symbol of the passion that is hidden within humans.
