By: MJ + PJ
We had seen flamenco dancing before, but we were not expecting what we experienced on our arrival in Seville. The reason this experience fits into the Humanity series on our website is because of the profound effect it had on us.
At the end of our first day in Seville we went on a tour that showcased the area and cuisine close to the river where the port used to be. We headed across the bridge into Triana, eventually ending at Flamenqueria Sevilla to see their flamenco show. Our guide got us situated and then left us to watch the show by ourselves. There were maybe 30 people in the room, which was in a dance studio which overlooked the river.
A guitarist took the stage and sat and played a few pieces. These were mesmerizing enough that he could have played an hour and we would have forgotten about any dancers taking the stage and happily gone home entertained. He was then joined by a singer and the female dancer, who sat and performed a song with him. Late in this part, which was inducing us into a trance, the male dancer eased on the stage.
At that point, things got really intense, very quickly.
We had explained to AJ that the flamenco style was very expressive but powerful, and assertive but delicate. You kind of have to experience it live, which was why we brought him with. It was one of those experiences where he had nothing to ask and was just engrossed in watching the performance.
The male dancer performed to the extremes of human movement – slow calculated turns and balanced poses, contrasted with rapid foot tapping and abrupt and commanding foot stomps. In these kind of performances you lose track of time, and the distractions and troubles of your mind drift away.
After a brief pause in the program, the female dancer then took the stage while the other three sat to accompany her. It was another level of intensity given the addition of a swirling dress with perfectly executed contortions, and ridiculous finger snapping. She played us like we were children watching a magic show. Her exit from the stage was drawn out, dramatic, and she owned it.
The final part of the performance was the couple dancing. This was potentially overwhelming considering what we had just seen from each of them individually, but there was a calmer sense to this performance. Hence it provided an almost rejuvenating feel by the end, rather than a sense of being drained.
When you see performances such as these you often have a moment of unsurity – is everyone else seeing what we are seeing and are we all on the same page? The density and vigor of the applause from the crowd of 30 odd pairs of hands showed agreement.
What stood out was the synchronicity and interplay between all of the performers, and how they blended into one flowing experience. Even though each had a chance to lead a portion of the program, they only did so with the melding of the others. It was hard to tell what dance elements were strictly to the musical piece, and what was improvised. It didn’t really matter. What style was it? In the moment it too didn’t matter.
What we had (and saw) was an entirely human experience. The kind of thing we want out child to witness to enable him to understand human potential. It was simple: A handful of people on a small stage with an exceptional level of skill, executing their craft with such confidence and mastery that you could barely fathom that it was possible.
This flamenco experience was like being a special guest in a private moment of Andalusian culture – being privy on a patio to a moment that could have been from any era. It was beautiful, raw, powerful, and profound. It was duende more than flow, but who’s to argue the difference? May the Andalusian people never become complacent towards this part of their culture.
