The dance is improvised, but there are traditional rules: types of step, hand movements, etc.
If it was 100% improvisation, it would not be flamenco would it? It would be modern improvised dance.
The music is highly controlled in that there are the various styles. There is a big difference between bulerías and tangos for example, so although the dancer improvises, they usually keep in time with the music.
BUT, in flamenco shows, it bears as much resemblance to real flamenco at say , the 'vendimia', as Lord of the Dance does to good traditional Irish dancing in a pub. Choreography rules. (Well it stops them bumping into each other.)
Forget the suffering gypsy bit. Yes , there is some of that but real flamenco is usually much more fun and the dances often have more to do with flaunting oneself in front of an object of desire than self-pity. Great!
Origins. It is seriously believed by experts, that the dancing is of Moorish / Arab / Gypsy / Indian origin with a big bit of European courtly dancing from way back and of course Spanish traditional music and dance. Like Scottish kilts, a lot of myth on origins etc. grew up on the subject in the 19th century. According to the locals, Flamenco originates from the triangle between Lucena, Seville and Cádiz
The colourful dresses ' faralaes' are just traditional southern Spanish party dresses. Today , these are called flamenco dresses. They even have a fashion show of them! ( http://www.simof.es/ ) They are mainly stage dresses; not what I've seen at Ferias and Fiestas.
Flamenco is actually related to GYPSIES, and, as mentioned, Arabic music has influenced it, too.
The guitar, highly important in flamenco music, was invented in Spain.
The best dancers in Spain come from Andalucía, but they often move to Barcelona and Madrid, because they can be paid more, there.
Bohemian is an interesting word to describe the dresses, as, after all, Bohemians are closely related to gypsies/Roma people...and that's where the root is. Those dresses can be called Vestidos de Feria (as everyone trots them out for Feria) Vestidos flamencos, or vestidos gitanos (gypsy). The proper thing to do with them is give a little kick, and then catch the hem, pulling it up to your waist.
Flamenco is taught to young children in much of the Spanish-speaking world. Little Mexican girls, etc., take flamenco lessons, like American girls take ballet/tap lessons.
No. No set steps...the faster one can taconear, the better, the more olés and clapping.
Yes, they are VERY serious when dancing...it's just part of the dance...like Tango, or Paso Doble, when you watch the pros do them.
Yes, it basically originated in Andalucía, Spain. Every city has its own style.
Sevillanas are very choreographed. Every little girl in Spain almost HAS to take Sevillana lessons. And the boys do, too. You go to any disco in Sevilla, and they will strike up the dances a couple of times an evening, and EVERYONE gets out and dances them.
I suppose you know that flamenco is from Andalusia (in Southern Spain) only. In Spain each region has different dances, which have nothing to do with flamenco.
There is no a pattern at all, it is just like jazz or blues, pure improvisation. Most of the people who dance or play flamenco are gipsies. Real flamenco is so serious because it depicts the suffering of gipsies, just like the sufferning of black people in the USA with blues.
It is possible that they brought it to Spain, even if there is also a very clear influence from Arabic music.
Real flamenco dresses are black. Those red and white dresses are for sevillanas, which is also from Andalusia (Seville) but which is not exactly flamenco.
Flamenco shows for tourists are fake, especially in areas which are not in Andalusia. Sometimes they sing songs which are not flamenco, like those of the Gipsy Kings.
I was watching flamenco on TV tonight, it's beautiful to see and when I was on holiday in Spain I did just that.
My question is are the dancers free to do whatever step they choose, or is there a set pattern to the dance?
What is the story behind this form of dancing, did it originate in Spain?
I also notice the women have very serious faces while dancing, and the dresses seem rather bohemian in color and style?
