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Flamenco

     Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre that developed in Andalusia, especially in the areas of Cádiz, San Fernando, Jerez de la Frontera and Seville and in towns such as Lebrija, Utrera, Huelva, Granada and Córdoba. It has an equally long tradition in some areas of the regions of Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura. Its main facets are the singing, cante, the playing, toque, and the dance, baile. Flamenco as we know it today dates from the 18th century.

 

    There is some controversy about its origin. Various theories exist - The Real Academia Española dictionary associates it with Andalusian popular culture and the notable presence of the gypsy people within it. However, the true fusion of cultures from which Flamenco originated is more subtle and complex than that. It is certainly true that the gypsies arrived in Spain in the 15th century and, despite many hardships, settled in Andalusia in the 16th and 17th centuries, when Flamenco was beginning to develop. But what heritage did those gypsies bring with them? Their pilgrimage had begun in India - perhaps it was the musical and movement legacy of those roots that converged with native Andalusian sounds to give rise to Flamenco. Meanwhile, one of the theories about the etymology of the word  Flamenco comes from the Andalusian expression fellah min gueir ard (فلاح من غير أرض), which means ‘landless peasant’. ‘According to Blas Infante, many Moriscos (people of Muslim origin who settled in Spain) were integrated into the gypsy communities, where they naturally shared their cultural character which which remained determinedly distinct from the dominant Spanish majority.’ Infante supposes that flamenco singing emerged as a manifestation of the pain the Moriscos felt from the attempted annihilation of their heritage.

     In recent years my relationship with the martial arts has deepened until it mirrors my nearly life-long devotion to Flamenco. Gradually I noticed surprising similarities between this powerful and temperamental art and Shaolin kung fu. Though the exact origins of Flamenco will remain mysterious, these parallels led me to my develop own theory. We know the gypsies came originally from India - and that Indian monks went to China and shared their theories and internal and external martial practices. Surely it is only natural that the movements and expressive character of flamenco, Indian dance and the martial arts contain traces otheir shared heritage.

     Flamenco is a type of dance that really engages us in the present moment and allows us to release adrenaline. It involves a potent ‘reverse breathing’ method which is also a foundation of Shaolin kung fu. The breath is carefully controlled - there is a rhythm of ‘holding’ followed by a release of power from in to out.

    The dance is very earthy. It allows us to ground, to stamp the floor and root ourselves into it, while our bodies are stretching up. It creates a connexion between heaven and earth while its rhythms and musicality allow us to connect deeply to our emotions.​ Different styles allow us to explore different ways of feeling: the petenera is associated with negative emotions and helplessness; the soleá examine a person’s sense of loneliness and blockage; the seguiriya expresses pain or suffering; the alegrías convey joy, security and relaxation; tangos are hopeful and lively in character and the bulerías are known for their great sense of humour.

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