Fun Flamenco Facts Made In Seville

Flamenco, that art form that comes from the depths and in every beat transmits emotion, mystery and truth, is full of details that are not always evident on stage. At the epicentre of its evolution, Seville has been witness and principal player in many of the strange facts that are at the heart of the flamenco soul. At Teatro Flamenco Seville we are happy to share some anecdotes, expressions and fun facts that maybe you didn’t know that will show this ancient art form in a different light.

Why is the flamenco spirit named after an elf?

One of the most mysterious and frequently used words when we talk about flamenco is duende, which in English can be defined as an elf, goblin or mythical spirit. In flamenco terms, the duende is that inexplicable force that appears in magical moments of flamenco singing, dancing or guitar playing. It is pure emotion. It is an inexplicable mystical, mythical spirit that empowers the artist allowing them to give an inspiring performance. 

The poet, Federico García Lorca, thought long and hard about this concept and he gave it an almost spiritual dimension. He said that the “duende” is not in the throat, but it crawls up through the artist's insides, from the soles of the feet. In Seville, this word is used often to describe those artists with the ability to stir feelings with the audience without any type of technical explanation. 

What does having pellizco, a pinch, mean in flamenco

Another typical flamenco expression used in Seville is to say that someone has a pinch of flamenco, “un pellizco”. This does not refer to a physical movement, rather something more difficult to define; the way that some flamenco gets straight to your soul, provoking emotions without, seemingly, making much of an effort. A well-measured song, a flirty look or an unexpected twist in a dance can all have this pinch of something that leaves the audience with goosebumps. In the tablao flamenco in Seville, it is not unusual to hear “that had a pinch” after a particularly exciting performance. 

The origins of “cante jondo” - the deep flamenco song

Although flamenco has diversified in many styles, some of them have a special depth. The term cante jondo is used to refer to this more primitive style of flamenco, the style that has more meaning, which is born of pain and the experiences of the Andalusian people. “Jondo” is a popular way of saying “hondo” meaning deep and this linguistic twist has a lot to do with the way Andalusians speak and in particular those from Sevilla and its surrounding areas. 

This type of flamenco singing is associated with styles like the seguiriya, the soleá and the toná and it is usually performed in intimate venues, where the audience’s silence allows each note and each silence to weigh heavy. 

Flamenco and Semana Santa: two worlds collide

Although they can seem to be two different worlds, flamenco and Holy Week overlap more than you would think. One of the clearest overlap points are the saetas: this heartwrenching lament thrown from a balcony as the image of Christ or the Virgin Mary passes by. 

The saestas weren’t born as a flamenco style, but they were absorbed by flamenco and reinterpreted by great sevillano artists such as Manuel Vallejo or La Niña de Los Peines. Today, it is usual to hear flamenco-style saestas in such processions as the Macarena or the Esperanza de Triana. 

Sevilla, birthplace of words that only flamenco fans know

Flamenco has created its own jargon which is alive and kicking in Seville. Expressions like “estar sembrao” when a flamenco artist is particularly inspired or “tener compás” when an artist carries a natural rhythm or “meterse en el cante” when a flamenco singer becomes absorbed by what they are singing, form part of the day to day scenes in the city. 

Many of these phrases come from the peñas, the flamenco associations, the rehearsals or the debates that come after a flamenco show. They are ways to speak that are not learned in books, but by listening and sharing experiences with flamenco artists and aficionados. 

An art form that lives and breathes in every corner

Flamenco is not just a technique or a show. In Seville, flamenco is a way of understanding life, a way of talking, of feeling and a way of telling stories. The fun facts that surround it make it more fascinating because it reminds us that it is a live art form that evolves without losing its roots. 

From Teatro Flamenco Sevilla we invite you to continue to discover this world full of different tones and shades, each small detail of flamenco is an open door to excitement. Join us at the most popular daily, live flamenco show in Seville, Pasión. Get your flamenco tickets here.