As an authentic expression of sincere joy and profound sadness, Flamenco was born after the Middle Ages in Andalusia, the rich crossroads of Islamic, Christian and Jewish cultures. The Flamenco singing has connections with the Portuguese fado, both having the same interiority and the same depth. Thanks to the nomadic gypsies, Flamenco has forged strong links with the traditions of the Balkans as well as India, the cradle of various civilizations. Furthermore, by assimilating the Flamenco culture, gypsies became a vehicle for its dissemination outside Spain.
One of the etymological origins of Flamenco comes from the Arabic word fellah-menkoub meaning wandering peasant. Another possible etymology is related to the Flamenco bird as Flamenco singers perform their song with a short jacket that makes them look like the bird of the same name. Finally, there is a strong cultural link between the city of Seville and Flanders (Flamenco in Spanish).
Flamenco combines dancing, singing and percussion in a classic style that has continuously evolved over the centuries. It is the pure expression of an organic folk rhythm. The steps of the dancers echo the clapping of the hands and the percussion; the movements of the body in circles responds to the singer’s voice and the plucking of the guitar. You do not dance Flamenco, you live it with your whole soul and your entire body.
The teachers
Since childhood, Rosario has studied Andalusian Flamenco dancing with renowned masters such as Mario Maya, Manolo Marín, Fernanda Romero, Pepe Ríos, Juana Amaya, Concha Vargas and Andrés Marín. She has also studied classical ballet at the School of María Luisa Rivas in Seville and theatrical interpretation with Carlos Gandolfo and Jan Lauwers. With over 30 years of diligent practice, she masters classical and contemporary Flamenco that she teaches in her studio in Seville. With her band Luna Flamenca, Rosario has given numerous concerts in Spain, Europe and America. At the last edition of the Flamenco Biennial in Seville, she presented a show of her own creation entitled “Dialogue with the Wind”. She also participated in the production of Blood Wedding with the Northern Stage in Newcastle and with the Need Company of Jan Lauwers she performed in the play En Invictos in the major capitals of Europe.
