Flamenco (KHV/E-FLA)

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  • 6 credits
  • Lecturer: Ing. Aneta Burianová
  • Semester: Winter / Summer
  • Teaching language: English
  • Method of completion: Credit

Synopsis / description / annotation:

Flamenco is a complex music and dance culture the cradle of which is Andalusia, southern Spain. The main disciplines are dance, singing, guitar playing, rhythmic hand-clapping and shouts.

The aim of the course is to gain basic knowledge about flamenco, but mainly practical skills from all major flamenco disciplines.

In this course, students will practically try flamenco dance, including, for example, castanets playing, flamenco hand-clapping and shouts, and cajón playing. They will become acquainted with various flamenco rhythms and styles, guitar playing (visually) and singing. They will learn a short dance choreography in one of the flamenco styles.

The course is designed for complete beginners who have no experience with dance or music. Dance lessons are not based on pairs and are suitable for both men and women.

Requirement to student

  • 75% attendance,
  • active participation in the exercises, practice of choreography and rhythmic exercises,
  • final group presentation.

Content:

  1. History of flamenco, flamenco disciplines, basic techniques of flamenco dance.
  2. Present – Paco de Lucía and other personalities, tablaos, festivals, ferias, continuation of flamenco dance lessons.
  3. Classification of flamenco styles, four-beat rhythm, flamenco hand-clapping technique, hand-clapping in basic rhythmic variations for tangos and rumbas; video demonstrations.
  4. More advanced rhythmic variations in four-beat styles, shouts, body percussion, cajón.
  5. Dance props in practice – shoes, costumes, a fan, a hat.
  6. Dance props in practice – castanets, a cane (bastón), a shawl (mantón).
  7. Continuation of dance lessons with selected props.
  8. Guitar, singing, connecting the dance with other elements, video demonstrations.
  9. Twelve-beat flamenco styles and rhythms (alegrías, bulerías, seguiriyas), basic hand-clapping, cajón.
  10. Other rhythms in flamenco (fandangos, sevillanas), dance elements and movements for choreography in the selected flamenco style.
  11. Learning choreography in the selected style.
  12. Completion of choreography in the selected style.
  13. Revision lesson, final group presentation.

Literature:

  • Martinez, E. Flamenco - all you wanted to know. Mel Bay Publications, 2011. ISBN 9781609744700.
  • Fernando, L. Flamenco Music Theory. Acordes Concert, 2005. ISBN 978-8460935148.
  • Washabaugh, W. Flamenco: Passion, Politics and Popular Culture. Taylor & Francis Ltd, 1996. ISBN 978-1859731710.
  • Chávez, N. The Spirit of Flamenco: From Spain to New Mexico. Museum of New Mexico Press, 2015. ISBN 978-0890136089.
  • Leblon, B. Gypsies and flamenco: The Emergence of the Art of Flamenco in Andalusia. University of Hertfordshire, 2003. ISBN 978-1902806051.

Updated: 03. 10. 2022