/tags/zapateado.rss en-us The reserved and resistant find it hard not to be swept up by the beat. Even the rhythmically inept, are unable to resist clapping along. And, just as the dancer and singer lock into a stare so intense you think one of them might explode, you yourself become helpless to take your eyes off of the stage. Flamenco dance, born in Spain, is at its best in Andalusia's capitol – Sevilla. The earliest records of flamenco dance are from as recent as the 1800s, but there is evidence that suggests this tradition goes back quite a bit further. Flamenco traditionally consists of three parts, toque – playing the guitar, cante – singing, and baile – the dancing. The percussion in the flamenco music comes from palmas, the clapping of the singer and the audience, from the zapateado, the foot stomping of everyone involved, and of course the dancing, which includes stomping (sometimes with blurring speed) and bodily percussion of all sorts. The eye contact between the flamenco dancer and the singer is very important. Although the dancer and the singer both have to be highly skilled in order to perform, they do not necessarily have a set routine. The speed at which the dancer wants to dance or the length of time of the performance, must be communicated through the eyes or through gestures in dance called llamadas. The improvisational nature of a flamenco dance can often make the show feel more personal and intimate, while the eye contact between the dancer and singer increases the intensity. In Sevilla, you can find many different venues and styles of flamenco. There are highly formal performances, where all the performers are in costume and each song is well rehearsed. There are also very informal, intimate settings, where the performers wear jeans and will chat with you between sets like you are old friends. The songs themselves range in emotion from sad and mournful to exciting and celebratory. Often in a minor key, the mixture of influences in the flamenco music (Moorish, Byzantine, Gypsy, etc) call to mind the variety of architectural styles that can be found in Sevilla. Triana, a famous gypsy district in Sevilla is a good place to find great flamenco. On Calle del Betis there are a number of tabernas at which to see a performance. Triana is so famous for its flamenco, that you can hear it being sung about in flamenco songs as far away as Madrid. La Carboneria is also a great place for a flamenco spectator. If you get lost in the Santa Cruz district, you might just find this place. Down an old, winding street, Calle Levies, this gem attracts many, despite the difficulty of finding it. In addition to having great sangria and a beautiful terrace with over-grown plants, it has nightly flamenco shows in a very intimate style. If you go a few times, you will probably find yourself chatting with one of the musicians afterwords. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:48:48 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/flamenco-dance http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/flamenco-dance