Masaryk University Introduction to Flamenco Instructor: Mark Tomass mark@tomass.com Each seminar is divided into two parts. The first half is an introduction to flamenco compás (rhythm), zapateados (foot techniques), palmas (clapping), arms, and posture of five kinds of flamenco music and dance. The first two are Tangos, Rumbas, and Farrucas. Their rhythm is in four beats with bold fonts expressing a strong beat: 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | The rest are Alegrias, Bulerias, and Solea. Their rhythm is in 12 beats. There can be many variations to the following basic rhythms: 1 2 3 | 4 5 6 | 7 8 9 | 10 11 12 | 1 2 3 | 4 5 6 | 7 8 9 | 10 11 12 | 1 2 3 | 4 5 6 | 7 8 9 | 10 11 12 | In the second half of the seminar, you will learn the Sevillanas. It is the popular Andalusian ballroom dance, which people dance in flamenco related dance clubs all over Spain. Because of its simple rhythm and movements, they are generally taught as an introduction to flamenco, although it is not proper flamenco. The term Sevillanas is derived from the Andalusian city of Seville. The Sevillanas is a set of four dances: meeting, seduction, confrontation, and making up. They are generally performed in couples (man + woman, or two women). Some outstanding performers dance it solo as a form of fine art. The most significant movements are the paseillos (ceremonial entrance), pasadas (cross-over with the partners side by side), careos (cross-over with the partners facing each other) and remate (the emphatic final part of a movement). On the last beat of the singing, the music and dancing cease simultaneously and the performers finish off with an elegant and provocative desplante (a hard stepping movement that climax the dance). Most importantly, dancers look into each other’s eyes throughout the dance. The Sevillanas has three beats, four times, with the following two variations: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Recommended Dress Code 1. Women: Sleeveless tops, long skirts, short skirts, tights, or shorts. 2. Men: Light material pants and shirts like Latin American ballroom dancers. 3. Footwear: Flamenco shoes, ballroom dance shoes, ballet shoes or socks that will allow you to spin on one foot. Make sure that your shoes do not leave black marks on the flour. The Structure of the SevillanasÓ +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | |1^st |2^nd | | | | | | | | | | | 5 PASEILLOS | 1 PASEILLO | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASADA | 3 SWEEPS | | | | | | | | | | | 1 PASEILLO | SPIN | | | | | | | | | | | 4 LATERALES |1 PASADA | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASADA | 1 PASEILLO | | | | | | | | | | | 1 PASEILLO | 6 VALSE STEPS | | | | | | | | | | |4 PASADAS | SPIN | | | | | | | | | | | REMATE Y DESPLANTE |1 PASADA | | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASEILLO | | | | | | | | | | | |8 VALSE STEPS IN A CIRCLE | | | | | | | | | | | | REMATE Y DESPLANTE | | | | | | | |----------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------| | | | | | | |3^rd |4^th | | | | | | | | | | | 1 PASEILLO | 1 PASEILLO | | | | | | | | | | | CIRCLE LEFT | CIRCLE LEFT | | | | | | | | | | | 2 HORSE MOTIONS | 1 HORSE MOTION | | | | | | | | | | | CIRCLE RIGHT | CIRCLE RIGHT | | | | | | | | | | | 2 HORSE MOTIONS | 1 HORSE MOTION | | | | | | | | | | | 1 PASADA | 1 PASADA | | | | | | | | | | | 1 PASEILLO | 1 PASEILLO | | | | | | | | | | | 3 LATERALES with ZAPATEADO | 1 CAREO | | | | | | | | | | | SPIN | 2 VALSE STEPS | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASADA |1 CRAEO | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASEILLO |SPIN | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASADA |1 PASADA | | | | | | | | | | |2 HORSE MOTIONS | 1 PASEILLO | | | | | | | | | | |1 PASADA |4 CAREOS | | | | | | | | | | | 2 HORSE MOTIONS | | | | | | | REMATE Y DESPLANTE | | | | | REMATE Y DESPLANTE | | | | | | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------- Ó 1998 Tomass DanceNotes, FS2