Songs and Dances

Over the years, the style and form of Spanish songs and dances have changed; however, there is still a wide variety of Spanish songs and dances that exist today. Spanish dance is to be performed by talented professionals who have had formal training and a degree in Spanish dance. It may also be acquired without a degree if the dancer has had many years of experience. The costumes within each dance will differ between each region.

Traditional Songs and Dances

Click on the title for each dance to see an example of the dance.


Flamenco- Involves singing, dance, and guitar simultaneously as well as rhythmic punctuation (hand claps or other simple methods). It was originally created as a music outlet for the poor and opressed, especially in the gypsy culture. It is passed down through oral tradition and the best dancers study for many years. Males sing and strum the guitar, while women either sit and clap the rhythm or dance. Dancers must be "bailaras"- dark, full figured women. Their hair is held back by a "pieneta," a Spanish comb, that may come out during the performance. Flamenco is known for being an extremely emotional dance. The "Tablado Flamenco," sacred area where the Spanish temptress Carmen (goddess of movement) can perform, is the stage where the Flamenco is performed.

Jota-Originally from Aragon, this style of dance is typically danced in pairs while playing castanets over head and is usually accompanied by guitar, bandurria, lute, dulzaina, and drum.

Fandango- This haappy, energetic folk dance comes from Andalusia. It is performed by couples and is accompanied by guitar, along with castanets or hand clapping. Dancers will often taunt each other by the steps and gestures they use. Lyrics are made up of eight syllable lines, and the use of castanets. Singing will follow a structure of four to five verses of eight syllable lines, the first line often being repeated.

Sardana- This is a Catalonian dance and is accompanied by a cobla, a Spanish band consisting of ten wind instruments, a double bass and a small drum. It is performed by couples in a circle that join hands and take simple steps together as a group. The dance is usually separated into two sections: "curts" and "llargas." This dance is fairly simple to learn, so many tourists are able to learn this dance quickly. It is common to see this dance being taught to tourists in the streets and market places.

Bolero-This dance is from the region of Castilla. This fast, spirited dance with unexpected pauses and sharp turns is one of the oldest and most traditional dances of the region. It was originally danced by couples, but over time has adapted to larger venues to use more dancers and a bigger variety of choreography. It usually includes three verses, each of which last thirty-six bars and finishes with a dramatic pose.

Sevullanas- This happy, joyous dance, similar to the Flamenco, originated around the fifteenth century. Normally it is accompanied by guitar. Over time it has mixed with other forms of dance, such as the flamenco, creating various new styles of Spanish dance.

Here is an example of this dance being danced by a couple.

Sources

"Culture o Spain." Culture of Spain. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2014
"Traditional Spanish Music & Dance." Traditional Spanish Music & Dance. N.p., n.d. Web 22 Mar 2014
"Spanish Dance and Music: Overview." Spanish Dance and Music: Overview N.p., n.d. Web 22 Mar. 2014
"Jota Manilena." Jota Manilena. N.p., n.d. Web 27 Mar. 2014
"About Fandangos De Huelva." About Fandangos De Huelva. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.