Natasha Hernandez

When many think about Spanish dances, images of the strumming guitars, stomping feet and bright dresses of flamenco come to mind. Yet, people barely expect to visit Spain and hear the sounds of bagpipes and tambourines streaming along the streets. Dancing is used as a form of communication and personal expression. Ritualistic dances honoring battles and other war-related themes were the first to appear in Spain and centuries later during the Middle Ages, structured religious-themed ritual dances were seen. Through these dances, many others were formed and combined now resulting into hundreds of types of dances.

The Chotis The Chotis is part of Madrids classic music and dance. Coming from a Scottish origin and similar to the country and folk dance, it became extremely popular in the nineteenth century mainly danced by working class people in the neighborhoods of Lavapies and El Ratsro and in traditional festivals.

The Chotis The Chotis The Chotis involves the couple facing each other, with the woman taking large steps and the man spinning on his axis. The woman traditionally wears an embroidered scarf/shawl and the man a beret.

The Flamenco The Flamenco originated in Andalusia from the eighth to nineteenth centuries when Spain was under Arab domination. Their style of music and instruments were customized and adapted by Christians and Jews and later by gypsies, becoming a combination of styles, unlike the musical form in which it was first created. The word Flamenco applies to the song, dance and guitar and did not come into use until the 18th century.

The Flamenco Flamenco at the beginning consisted of one voice combined with hand clapping. Later the guitar was integrated. During the 20th century, the zapateo feet tapping was introduced: dancers tapped the steps of the dance accompanied by the music. This simple combination of elements, known as cuadro flamenco, was established as more additions were made to it: hand clappers to accompany the music and provide rhythm, male and female singers to accompany the main singer, the caja box, a rectangular wooden percussion instrument, and the castañuelas castanets, small wooden instruments played by hand.

The Flamenco The women usually wear long colorful flowing dresses. The men usually wear black pants, white or spotted shirts and, on occasion, a small back bolero jacket on top of a belt. The men as well as the women wear heeled shoes to give emphasis to the dance steps.

Music and dance in Madrid includes a wide variety of forms ranging from the folk music/dance to hip-hop. Music and dance in Madrid shapes a considerable characteristic of culture and entertainment, blending the traditional with the contemporary to create a enticing and alluring cultural experience.

References: Article Websites: Aguilera, A. (2011). Enforex Spanish in the Spanish World: History of Spanish Dance. Retrieved from: dance-history.htmlhttp:// dance-history.html Aguilera, A. (2011). Enforex Spanish in the Spanish World: Flamenco Dance. Retrieved from: (2011). Go Madrid: Madrid Flamenco. Retrieved from: (2011). Madrid Info Site: Flamenco in Madrid Music Dance and Shows. Retrieved from: flamenco.aspxhttp:// flamenco.aspx (2009). Black Tomato: The Cutting Edge Travel Experts. Retrieved from: (2009). Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia: Schottische. Retrieved from:

References: Article Websites Cont. (2008). Maps of the World: Madrid Dance. Retrieved from: (2008). Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia: Flamenco. Retrieved from: (2007). Madrid Travel Guide: Fiesta De San Isidro. Retrieved from: (2000). All about Spain: Flamenco History. Retrieved from:

References: Images from Google Search Engine: Chotis Dancers 1 st set (February 28, 2011). Retrieved from: Chotis Dancers 2 nd set (February 28, 2011). Retrieved from: Flamenco Dancers 1 st set (February 26, 2011). Retrieved from: dancers.jpg Flamenco Dancers 2 nd set (February 26, 2011). Retrieved from: Music Notes (February 26, 2011). Retrieved from: Single Flamenco Dancer (February 26, 2011). Retrieved from: Spanish Musical Instruments (February 28, 2011). Retrieved from: and