| Get to know the flamenco forms |
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| Flamenco Forms
Zambra
by Susana
Navalón
Translated by Yasha Maccanico
The name comes from the noise made by certain instruments and by the din of a
bustling crowd. In old Castillian, this is what a Moorish party
with music and a loud racket was called. Later, the name was used
for a gypsy feast that, nowadays, has lost its improvised character
and is performed as a dance for tourists in the famous Sacromonte
caves in Granada. It is characterised by its guitar accompaniment
and singing which is not particularly graceful due to its unimaginative
and monotonous rhythm, which is an indication of its obvious folk
roots. |
|  It is a very old dance form that is composed, in turn, by three others that symbolise
the different stages of a gypsy wedding
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| Dance |
It is a very old dance form that is composed, in turn, by three others: the alboreá,
the cachucha and the mosca, which symbolise the different
stages in a gypsy wedding. The mimicry that is reflected
in the dance, which is typical of primitive peoples,
looks to express the oldness of this dance in an apparent
manner. It was made popular in the forties and fifties
by Manolo Caracol and Lola Flores, and is very well
suited for theatrical representations, as the cantaor
takes up his position next to the bailaora (female
flamenco dancer), acting out the content of the coplas
(poetic compositions, in verse, used as lyrics) with
gestures and postures. At present, it has become very
commercial to cater for the tourism in the caves of
Granada.
Its time is a slow 2/4.
1 2
3 4 / 1 2
3 4 / 1
2 3 4 |
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| At present, it has become very commercial to cater for the tourism in the caves
of Granada. |
| Guitar |
It is only played in the middle or at the top, although what is most commonly
done is to play it in the middle and, as it is played
in LA major and B flat major, its tonic is D minor. It
is necessary to use a bridge to seek out the tonality
of the singer.
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| Singing |
It is considered a kind of song that has been aflamencada (lit. flamencoised,
that is, has undergone changes resulting from the influence
of flamenco) rather than a cante (style of song) in
the true sense of the word, due to the many versions
featuring orchestras that have appeared since the decade
of the forties. Some of the best-known examples have
been La Salvaora and La Niña de Fuego, originally by
Quintero, León and Quiroga. Manolo Caracol made a decisive
contribution to spreading this style and making it
popular. Nowadays it is not a style that is often performed
in spite of the possibility it offers for artists to
flaunt their talent.
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| Get to know the flamenco forms |
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Getting
started in flamenco
What is meant by cante jondo, duende, jondura, quejío, garbo…?
Everything you need to know to get started in flamenco.
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You
can start dancing straight away
Finding a jersey, skirt, fan, or dance school is easier than
you think: the technique can be learnt, but only you can put
the magic into it.
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Flamencoing
in Madrid
Madrid is undoubtedly the flamenco capital: schools, tablaos,
taverns, bars and festivals. Everything that you mustn´t miss
out on.
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Choose
the best skirt
The skirt shapes your figure and highlights your movements.
Here you can learn how to pick the one that suits you best.
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Paso
a Paso.
Flamenco forms
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