Very overdue, but my internet connection has been hit-or-miss.
There is deep pain, lurking sexuality, and incredible beauty in flamenco dancing. The fast fingered work of the guitar player, the lamenting cry of the singer, and the tightly controlled movements of the dancer all combine into one of the most passionate art forms I’ve ever experienced. While in Seville, I attended one of these shows. Most flamenco shows in that city have casts of 12 or more persons and are well out of my budget, so instead I saw an intimate show which featured only four performers. Although I’d love to see one of the bigger shows someday, having a small stage and only a couple people made the show really personal, which I think is ideal for the art form. Many people have heard flamenco music, and if haven’t go listen to some right now! It was some of the most amazing guitar finger-work I have ever seen, both due to its speed and its complexity. (Side note: I would love to hear flamenco music performed on an electric guitar – it would have a completely different feel, but would be really cool.) The singing was like a combination of an Islamic call to prayer with a lament for a lost child, so it had a primal power to that can break your heart. And the dancing takes that power and transforms it into movement. At points it was like the dancer was making love to the sounds of the guitar, and at other points it almost appeared territorial. The movements are all very controlled, and yet very graceful. When they start stamping their feet, you get this amazing rhythm of stamping, clapping, and guitar all thrown together. Overall, it was one of the most “Spanish” things I did while in Iberia and also one of my favorite experiences thus far.
