Spanish Dancing The Flamenco.
Wiggle that butt gyrate those hips. Eat your heart out Micheal Flatley.
The Gypsy of which you can be certain played an important role in its creation. Not forgetting Andalusia who considerably influenced early Flamenco.
You may bet that there were other strong influences too. Especially in a country that has been dominated by most diverse cultures and civilizations during its different historical times. Directly or indirectly the legendary Tartessos and seven centuries of Muslim occupation hardly could have passed without leaving traces which influenced Flamenco.
The first time Flamenco was introduced in literature was in the “Cartas Marruecas” of Cadalso in 1774. This most probably was where between 1765 and 1860 the first schools were born: Jerez de la Frontera Cádiz, and Triana.
Starting to hold a firm position in ballrooms. Early Flamenco seems to have been purely vocal accompanied only by rhythmical clapping of hands, toque de palmas. Composers like Julián Arcas was the one to introduce guitar playing.
Flamenco The Golden Age (1869-1910) was developed in the epoch’s numerous music cafés (cafés cantantes) Also the more serious forms expressing deep feelings (cante jondo) dates from then.
Now a major attraction for the public. Guitar players featuring dancers increasingly gained a reputation.
1910 to 1955 Flamenco singing marked the ópera flamenco with an easier kind of music such as fandangos and cantes de ida y vuelta. Thus clearly showing South American influences. Flamenco performances and shows from 1915 were organized all over the world. Not everybody was excited with that development and intellectuals such as Falla organized 1922 in Granada a contest to promote “authentical” cante jondo.
Renaissance a sort of Flamenco started in 1955 by the great performer Antonio Mairena being its key figure. Dancers and soloists soon made their way out of the small tablaos, successors to the early cafés cantantes, to the great theatre and concert halls.
Other kinds of music like Bossa Nova Jazz, Salsa etc comes through in Flamenco dancing.
The Flamenco guitar that formerly was just featuring dancers arrived to be a soloistical art form. Paco de Lucia being the pioneer of that development.(The great virtuoso)
Flamenco brought Mass Media attention to the world of entertainment but it has always been and will remain an intimate kind of music.
PS
Give me the Salsa any day where you wiggle that butt and gyrate those hips thus taking the attention away from the feet because you have to have the Micheal Flatley tootsies for Flamenco.