The most pure manifestation of the Sevillan people, the Flamenco is a style of music and dance which is considered part of the Spanish culture, although it is actually native from only one region: Andalusia. Flamenco, also known as cante jondo (Andalusian gypsy singing) represents the purest Andaluscian expression.

Many cultures such Andalusian, Gypsy, Sephardic, Moorish and Byzantine have been detected as flamenco´s influences, often claimed to have coalesced around the time of the Reconquista in the 15th century. The origins of the term are unclear; the word flamenco itself was not recorded until the 18th century. In a quick exercise of imagination we could be transported to Arabic Spain, since the modulations and melisimas that define the flamenco genre could come from the monochord Islamic chants.

Others attribute the creation of this music to gypsies. The different musical legacies that the relatives from Andalucia left in the South of Spain can not be forgotten, where psalmodic melodies and the Jewish musical system, were in effect, the Ionic and Phrygian methods inspired in the Byzantine chants, the old Hindu musical system, the Muslim chants and popular Mozarabic chants, from where the 'jarchas' and the 'zambras' probably came from.

During the middle of the 19th Century, flamenco was made popular by singers who frequented cafes. The first one was opened in Seville around the year 1885, up until then flamenco was not common in family reunions or private parties, as it is nowadays.

The Flamenco is shaped for three essential elements: song (cante), the guitar (toque) and dance (baile), having countless styles (palos), grouped according to more or less common structures, melodies or themes.

Today, flamenco has a history full of extraordinary figures, such as, Enrique el Mellizo, Manuel Torre, Tomás Pavón, La Niña de los Peines, Antonio Chacón, Manolo Caracol o Pastora Imperio. These are some of the legends, pilars of this historical art form rich in interpretations, which has become one of most significant tokens of culture from this land. One that deserve special mention is José Monge, better known as Camarón de la Isla, to be considered the last great figure of gypsy singing. Tracing his flamenco repertoire, he reached the highest levels of popularity and stood out for his innovative initiatives and experiences.

Today's interest in everything that is autochthonous has coincided with a surge in flamenco that is extraordinary. Thus the birth of "nuevo flamenco" (new flamenco), classical and virtuous on the one hand and more open to new musical genres on the other, this panorama, still in a state of flux, has launched the fame of stellar artists such as Enrique Morente or Carmen Linares in song, Cristina Hoyos, Mario and Belén Maya, Milagros Mengíbar, Antonio Canales or Joaquín Cortés in dance and guitarists such as Vicente Amigo, Tomatito or Paco de Lucía. In short, a long list of which we can`t leave out the Compañía Andaluza de Danza, (Andalusian Dance Company), an extraordinary public troupe that since 1995 has been in charge of investigating and promoting flamenco on stages throughout the world.

In Seville you can enjoy the best performances of this art form at it´s best, at the most famous  flamenco tablaos (venues for flamenco), direct inheritors of the ancient cafés, the neighborhood peñas (flamenco club enthusiasts) or village festivals.

The famous most famous one is the Bienal de Arte Flamenco, celebrated every other year, this event counts with the biggest names in song and dance, is definitely worth highlighting. This incomparable encounter has been held for twenty years. Its main objective is to internalize this culture in the social fabric of Seville and later throughout all of Andalusia.

Come to Samay Hostel Sevilla and enjoy the best of the world famous Flamenco of Sevilla.

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