(artículo)The Art of Flamenco

Amy Ralston Young
BellaOnline's Spanish Culture Editor

A popular tradition started in the province of Andalusia, flamenco is perhaps one of the greatest art forms to emerge from Spain. Traditionally an outlet for the poor and oppressed, flamenco combines a variety of art forms, including singing, dancing, and playing the guitar.

The different types of flamenco are classified by their melody, rhythm, and mood. There are hundreds of different types, but some of the more generic versions are zapateados, fandangos, alegrias, soleares, and seguiriyas.

Influenced by the Moors, gypsies, and Jews, the songs can be traced back to the early 1600s. The fusion of these cultures and Andalusian folk music created the popular sounds of modern flamenco. The guitar was added later, replacing other instruments such as the tambourine.

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