An Evening of Flamenco Dancing

No visit to Madrid would be complete without seeing a Flamenco show. Flamenco is actually a UNESCO declared Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The origin of Flamenco is somewhat unclear but the earliest written reference appears to come from Andalusia, an autonomous community in southern Spain, around 1774. There are some 50 different palos or styles of Flamenco varying from solo guitar or voice to dance reserved for men only or women only.  Although movies and TV show Flamenco with castanets, most purists frown on their use.

We’re going to see a troupe called, “Essential Flamenco’ in a cellar venue that resembles the Cavern in Liverpool. Brick walls and ceilings create a unique sound experience as well as a intimate environment. The show has seating for a maximum of 100 people so the audience is really very close to the performers. Price of the ticket was 18EUR per person and included a glass of wine or beer.

Justin and Nicole

So how was it? For 18EUR, how much entertainment can you really get? You get every bit of 1 full hour of singing, guitar playing, dancing and probably the best, most traditional Flamenco show in Madrid! Absolutely fabulous!

The venue

The band

The dancers