There are many dances in the world. Each nation has its own rhythms and music. But in the modern world there is hardly a person who would never hear of Spanish flamenco.
Woman dancing flamenco
Perhaps the most famous performer in the world, with whose name flamenco is associated, became the famous Carmen. Burning beauty with a bright rose in long black hair. Her image has become a symbol of dance for all time.
To the enchanting sounds of a guitar, accompanied by spiritual singing, a woman dances. Her fluffy skirts flutter to the beat of movements. Her arms twist like the wings of a fairytale bird. Her eyes are full of passion and fire. Her sexuality attracts men, like the light of a lantern of moths in the night darkness. She knows how beautiful she is and is proud of it. But this woman is not cheap, she knows her worth, and only the best can win her heart.
Flamenco is a dance of passion, fire, expression of feelings and emotions. There is nothing faked or fictional in it. He is life itself. It is impossible to fulfill it without inspiration. The best performers are those who put their soul, flame and body awe into flamenco.
Dance directions
It has long been distinguished two directions of flamenco, which differ from each other in style. The ancient cante hondo (translated as deep) is a historically developed cult dance. It expresses the sacred essence of the rushing soul.
The second direction is cante chico (lite). This is a modern flamenco that has lost its spiritual component and has become a dance for everyone. In both classes, more than 50 varieties stand out, the differences between which can only be understood by an experienced specialist.
The origins of the dance
Flamenco is a dance that originated in ancient times. Its origins originate in Moorish culture. In the 15th century, floods of refugees from Byzantium poured into Andalusia. Among them were gypsies, Jews, blacks and other nations. All of them lived outcasts, people of the lowest grade. All the pain of the people spilled out in tearing music, songs and in passionate dances. Each nation contributed to flamenco a part of its cultural heritage, a particle of its soul.
In the XVIII century, the situation improved, the persecution of the gypsies stopped, the dancers went to the square and performed in taverns. Art, so many centuries considered sacred and forbidden, was set free, having gained popularity. Spanish flamenco has become a symbol of freedom.
Already in the 20th century, Cuban melodies and jazz tunes organically blended to traditional Spanish and gypsy elements. The dance was complemented by elements of classical ballet.
Fusion of genres
The Spanish flamenco dance, in fact, is not only the fiery movements of a dancer or dancer. This is a symbiosis of the musical accompaniment of the toke, traditionally played on the guitar, the sincere singing of the cante, and directly the baille dance.
Flamenco is a
triple union of bailor, canthor and torus. In the traditional version, each of them can start his own party. And the rest support. Any one of the trinity can come out first and ask a topic. And the rest will pick her up with musical, dance or song improvisation. When one of the performers comes to the fore, the others are held in the background to let the speaker throw out his emotions. But in the process of speaking, roles change. And only at the end do they unite at the height of the dance, united by a common fire.
Complex rhythms
The musical rhythm of flamenco is difficult to adopt or shift to notes. This is improvisation. Each time during the performance, the same melody can be played faster and slower, transitions and overflows are added. The true art of dance (Spain) flamenco is transmitted from teacher to student.
Performers
Famous performers worldwide made flamenco. As soon as the persecution of gypsies was canceled and the Spaniards recognized the beauty of the life-affirming dance, it became extremely popular. Already in 1842, the first flamenco school in Seville was opened. Since that time, dance has become an industry, it has lost its sacredness and mystery.
At the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the performer Silverio Fronconetti was known, who carried this ancient art to the masses. His performances were always full of passion and fire. But numerous followers turned flamenco from sacred dance into sports, where the technique of performance stood above spiritual depth. It is this option that has become generally accepted throughout the world.
But in the homeland, in Spain, true connoisseurs remained. There the phrase “There is no fire in him!”, Said about the performer of flamenco, is a “death sentence” for the dancer. A case is known when an 80-year-old woman received the main prize at one of the dance competitions. She put the young performers in her belt with her inner fire and passion, reflected in the dance. After all, as the Spaniards say, you need to dance as if death itself holds you by the shoulder.
Learning process
Flamenco is a very popular dance. In almost every city there are schools where they teach him. The stream of those who want to learn the secrets of mastery does not dry out. And this is not surprising, because it is flamenco that reveals the female essence. You can’t be shy in life and passionately perform movements on the stage. Having started training, a woman changes internally, she is freed from complexes, she knows herself, opens up like a bud. You can start training at least 6 years old, at least 86. There are no restrictions.
In Spain, everyone is invited to take a basic flamenco course for beginners, consisting of 10 lessons that are held 2 times a week. You can learn the basics of dance in less than a month, but it takes years of work to become a professional.
A good teacher, first of all, will make a woman fall in love with herself. After all, only a woman who is proud of her beauty can adequately present herself in the dance.
The main pose is the pose of complete self-satisfaction. The proud beauty does not know the complexes, does not see flaws in herself, and certainly will not tell others about them. After that feminine gestures, steps, turns are worked out. The dancer is the queen, and the audience, looking at her with admiration, see her as an unearthly woman.
Why it is worth learning flamenco
Every girl, regardless of the date of birth, who is in the passport, should try herself in flamenco. Training in this dance reveals hidden reserves in a woman. After several months of classes, she will understand that in life there is no place for pretense and fear. A woman is strong and beautiful; she cannot be broken by everyday difficulties. She loves and is loved.
In addition, regular training significantly improves your figure. The main requirement for all dancers is a flat back as a symbol of an unbending character. You can forget about scoliosis and stoop after the first lessons.
Important elements of the dance are beating the shot with your feet. Sharpening these exercises makes the muscles of the legs taut and elastic, and the legs are slender and beautiful.
The dancer's hands should flutter like wings. Masters teach to bend them beautifully and gracefully.
Regular exercises will inevitably lead to an improvement in the figure, pulling up all the muscles, improving their relief. Beautiful posture is another important plus from classes. Well, self-confidence and getting rid of the inferiority complex will be a nice bonus.
Flamenco treats problems of this kind better than any psychologists.
Clothes for dance
Flamenco - dance with gypsy roots. Clothing for the dancer resembles a traditional dress of a representative of a nomadic people. The skirt to the floor is made of multi-colored fabric. It can be layered or decorated with frills and frills. During the movement, the dancer as if caught in the waves of her own dress. An integral part of the dance is a game with a hem that resembles either the unrestrained waves of the sea or the tongues of a burning flame. This dress is necessarily bright, catchy - no pastel colors!
Shawl with long tassels is another element of a women's suit. She can be tied at the waist, emphasizing the slimness of the silhouette, or pounce on the shoulders. In this case, it forms in motion a silhouette of a soaring bird.
Dancers often perform with a fan, literally hypnotizing the audience and keeping them in suspense until the last moment. Each attribute, while moving to music, seems to come to life, making its additions to the story of the singer.
An important detail of the costume is shoes with heels, with which the performer taps the rhythm. In hands can be castanets that emit clicks and set the pace of movements and music.
Men performing flamenco (photo in the article) dress in dark trousers with a wide belt and a snow-white shirt. You can complement the outfit with a short vest. The image of the performer is concise and strict. This is the very embodiment of masculinity and stature.
Important elements
During the performance of flamenco, the dancer does not soar above the ground, on the contrary, he stands confidently, as if taking a firm, life-affirming position. It is a symbol of safety and security. He took his place, it belongs to him rightfully, at least for the duration of the dance.
In the movements of each part of the body, a story about life, a story about what excites everyone individually and all together, is manifested. From the chest emanate emotions, resentment, love and sadness. The dancer’s shoulders speak of a burden of responsibility and age-old oppression. Brushes talk about feelings, this is the most expressive part of the body of the performer. Widely spaced elbows seem to allow him to take a firm position in life, to free a piece for himself under the sky. The spine is the basis of dance. It symbolizes the inflexibility of character, firmness of spirit and perseverance.
The movements in flamenco are simple, there are not so many of them. But each of them is filled with deep meaning, fraught with the wisdom of centuries. Knowing the language of dance can tell the world its story, make empathize with all the audience. This is the path leading to inner liberation and joy, although outwardly it is filled with sadness and pain.
New forms
Throughout history, flamenco has changed, experienced ups and downs. And even today, connoisseurs say that this type of art has died, but interest in it has not died away. On the contrary, new types and trends appear, based on the traditional performance and complemented by modern forms. So there were flamenco pop, flamenco rock, flamenco jazz and jeepsi rumba. Each of them has the right to life and finds fans and followers. But classical dance remains a favorite!
It is difficult for a beginner to understand these currents. But then everyone can find what he really likes. The main thing is to understand the spirit of dance, to comprehend the deepest meaning of movements and to put feelings into the performance of each step.
Flamenco is a dance that can be performed without a partner. There is no need for a stage and scenery. All you need is a desire to change your life, throw out emotions, share joy or pain. This is a kind of individual self-improvement program that reveals the inner world. Perhaps this is what makes flamenco so attractive and famous throughout the world. This is a dance that cannot be danced without opening from the inside.
When you see an ad for admission to a flamenco school, do not pass by. Perhaps it is fate itself that gives the sign that it is time to change your life, open up and fly. And dance is the best way to do it beautifully and with dignity.