Welcome to our beginner flamenco dance tutorials.
Here, you’ll discover essential flamenco dance fundamentals.
Our mini-tutorials serve as the building blocks of your learning journey and include short exercises that reinforce your skills through repetition.
Beginner Flamenco Dance Terminology
Get acquainted with essential flamenco terms, each carrying a unique significance in this rich art form. Pronunciation guides are provided to help you feel confident in using these terms:
Compás: (kohm-pahs): the rhythm of a flamenco song
Marcaje (mahr-kah-heh): short step combinations
Palma, Palmas: (pahl-mah): handclap, handclaps
Zapateo: (zah-pah-teh-oh): footwork, which includes: planta, tacón, golpe, punta, latiguillo
Falseta: (fahl-seh-tah): guitar melody
Letra: (leh-trah): verse, as in the lyrics of a flamenco song
El Zapateo - The Footwork
Flamenco Footwork Essentials
Flamenco footwork, known as “taconeo” or “zapateado,” is a dynamic fusion of sounds and rhythms created by dancers. These sounds are produced by utilizing different parts of the shoe, including planta, tacón, golpe, punta, and latiguillo.As you begin your flamenco dance lessons, you’ll explore key concepts and master the basics of footwork technique. To guide you through this rhythmic and expressive art form, I’ve created a series of tutorials tailored for beginner dancers. Let’s get started!
Consider the dedication of a musician to their instrument; as flamenco dancers, we are akin to percussionists, tirelessly practicing to create rhythms with our feet, much like a drummer hones their craft. To produce these sounds and movements – “the planta,” “the tacón” and “the golpe” – effectively, proper flamenco shoes make a big difference. This is especially true for “La Planta” due to the presence of nails on the shoe’s front section. For further insights on flamenco footwear, consult our Beginner’s Shoe Guide.
Golpe: The Resounding Beat
Golpe, which translates to “strike” or “hit” in Spanish, is the most thunderous percussive sound a flamenco dancer can produce with one foot. This technique involves a dramatic drop of the lower leg, causing the entire shoe to strike the floor with power.
Planta and Tacón
“La Planta” refers to the ball of the foot, while “El Tacón” signifies the heel of the shoe. In flamenco, “La Planta” represents the sound and motion created when the ball of the foot makes contact with the floor, while “El Tacón” pertains to the distinctive heel sound.
On this video:
0:10 What is the planta and how to hit the floor with it
0:50 Exercise for plantas
01:30 El Tacón and exercise #1 planta-tacon
2:26 Exercise #2 planta-tacon
Las Manos - The Hands
The Hands (Las Manos)
Coordinating hand movements with footwork, turning, and body motion is one of the more challenging aspects to master in flamenco. The approach to teaching hand movements varies considerably among instructors, often influenced by personal preferences and aesthetics.
Historically, female dancers employed more intricate and ornate hand gestures, while male dancers favored straighter lines with less finger curling. Today, these distinctions have become less rigid, allowing dancers to express their personal preferences in shaping their hand movements.
On this video:
Las Palmas - Handclapping
Las Palmas (Handiclapping)
Translates as hand clapping. The palmas provide the backbone of flamenco music and dance. Dancers use them often in choreography. Practising palmas will help deepen your understanding of flamenco rhythm. There are two kinds of palmas: Palmas sordas or cerradas (muffled or closed) create a muffled sound achieved by cupping the palms of your hands.
Palmas claras or abiertas (clear, high or open) create a crisp, loud sound achieved by hitting the flattened fingers of the right hand on the palm of the left hand.