Dances+of+Spain


 * Traditional Dance of Spain **

**Introduction**: There are many types of dances that are performed all around Spain. The dances are mainly performed in cultural ceremonies and during traditional celebrations. At one point in Cataluña, there were over two hundred documented dances that were being performed at these traditional ceremonies. Some of the most popular dances were and are Jota, Fandango, and Flamenco. Today, Flamenco is the most popular and widely known dance across the world. To understand the history behind Flamenco one must understand the reasons for dancing and why there are so many different varieties of dancing.

History of Dancing in Spain:

Dancing has been a big part of the Spanish tradition for many generations and will be for many generations to come. The main dances that people can witness when they visit Spain are Jota, Fandango, and Flamenco. Jota is a fast paced dance that originated in Aragon, Spain. Fandango was the most famous dance all across Spain until the Flamenco began. The Fandango dance is a very lively and an energetic way of expressing the emotions of the dancer. The Flamenco comes from Andalucía and is heavily influenced by the original Fandango dance. However, this dance is a lot more passionate and comes from the gypsy culture and presence in southern Spain. This dance became popular in the 19th century. The music that the Flamenco is danced to is typically from an Arabic background. -The Picture to the right is a picture of the Jota dance.

Meaning Behind Dancing: Dancing in Spain is more than just a performance for others. It is a way of communicating one's feelings to an audience and a healthy way of releasing the pressures that inner emotions can cause a person to have. For example, the death of a loved one can have a major affect on a person and dancing is a healthy way of expressing the feelings that can be hard to communicate using words.

The dance itself can mean different things to different people. Some people dance because of its traditional values and the importance that a person’s family has put on this tradition. The people in these dances are expressing their emotions and feelings through their dances. It is a way of communicating to oneself through the art of dancing. On many of the women’s faces, one can see the emotions they are expressing. Some of the women seem to be thinking back to the hard times they have had to overcome and are allowing those feelings to escape through their dance. For all people that see, it turns out magnificent. It takes years of practice to be able to channel these feelings and emotions into the dances, and it gives the dances a personal feel. This is also what makes them so fantastic to watch. Each dancer is expressing emotions from a different time or event in their lives. They each have their own reason to dance, whether if it is for communicating a troubled past or expressing a happy memory, all emotions and feelings are welcomed in this traditional set dance.

Movements: The actual dance is performed in different ways based on the emotions that the dancer is portraying and feeling, but the movements are very similar with personal twists. When a person visiting Spain thinks of what the Flamenco dance should look like they think of strumming guitars, stomping feet and bright dresses, but in reality it is much more than that. It is about the feeling that the dancer is experiencing.

The movements, although they are similar for all the dancers, are also unique to each dancer in some way. The hands and wrists rotate around each other while the rest of the body is moving to the beat of the music. Each finger is individually curling in unison with the others to give the feeling of the arms being extended longer than they actually are. The expression on the face of the dancer is used as a tool for the audience to see what emotions and feelings the dancer wants to convey. The back is always held up straight and upright. The dancers are very proud and their posture shows it, with their shoulders back and their chest forward, thus always making their motions fluid. The dancer’s legs are one of the most important pieces of the body. The legs keep the dancer steady, and they always have the knees slightly bent to prepare for the next move while being able to absorb the shock of the stomps and movements of the feet. The feet of the dancers move very quickly and stomp the ground for additional beats and expressions of emotions. The planta stomp is when the whole foot hits the ground and the Taco is when either the ball or heel of the foot hit the ground. All moments are unique to the dancer but are based off these basic ideas.

Costumes: The dresses that the women wear are very unique to this type of cultural event. They are always a bold, lively color, most often a warmer red, orange or yellow. They are also made in other colors but the warm colors are most often seen. The dresses are long with a tighter fit up top and lots of ruffles on the bottom. Depending on the personality of the dancer, the dress may have a slit in the front or have both knees showing with a triangle cut on the bottom of the dress. Some dancers’ feet arecompletely covered, but the majority of the dresses are loose on the bottom and it iscommon to hold the dress in one hand so the audience can see the dancer’s feet.

Preparation/Traditions: Many dancers use this traditional dance as much more than just a cultural factor of their society. To the people who are performing, these dances are much more than just performances. The dancers practice for weeks to perfect their dance, ensuring that it shows their feelings and fully expresses their emotions. Today, there are more influences on the dances, making them more modern, but they still have a majorly traditional foundation. The traditional dance is an enormous part of the culture of Spain and has had a significant impact on the music of the entire western hemisphere. Dancing is a way of expressing the emotions of a person and has become a major factor in the culture of Spain.

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 * Citations: **

"Flamenco Dance History." //Central Home Learn to Dance Videos, Exercise Videos, Fitness Videos, Sports, Music and Educational Videos DVD CD Books.// Web. 26 Nov. 2011. .

"History of Spanish Dance." //Learn Spanish in Spain & Latin America - Spanish Schools | Enforex.com//. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. .

Partington, Helen. //Spain//. [Singapore]: Apa Publications, 2006. Print.

"Spanish Dance Schools in Spain, Dancewear Suppliers, Dancing Organizations, Flamenco Dance Group, Folkloric Group Los Jateros, Pena Flamenca, Ballet Espanol." //Thailand Companies Bangkok Companies Singapore, Cambodia Thai Company Contact Database, List, Directory, Product Sourcing, Company Buying Agent Bridal Wear//. 2002. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. .

Trefler, Caroline. //Fodor's 2010 Spain.// New York: Fodor's Travel Publications, 2010. Print.