🌍 World Music — Flamenco

Flamenco is an art form developed in Andalusia and documented in its modern forms from the 18th and 19th centuries onward, combining singing (cante), guitar or instrumental playing (toque) and dance (baile). Gitano communities of Andalusia played a central role in its development, but its complex history cannot be reduced to a simple, clearly defined blend of Gitano, Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures. Flamenco comprises dozens of forms called palos, such as soleá, seguiriya, tangos, alegrías or bulería, distinguished by their rhythms, tonalities and uses. Duende refers to a creative and expressive intensity of performance, not merely improvisation. Peñas, tablaos, festivals and schools keep this tradition alive today, also open to jazz, rock and contemporary experimentation.