Thursday September 3rd

We want to a bar near Sol called Las Carboneras to see a Flamenco show. I really enjoyed it, though it was very different from anything I have seen before. Most of the time the performers are a family. The dance is not preplanned or choreographed very much at all, and the “duende” (which literally translates to leprechaun) is the person who feels it is their turns to dance and begins to do so. The music and the dancers must follow each other, and it was interesting to watch the dancer cue the musicians that they were change tempo. I thought it was interesting that all the dancers were older women, since in most dances the performers are young and fit. I just read somewhere that a youth is not considered to have the emotional maturity to convey the duende of the dance. Isabel explained a lot about flamenco to us (its like having a personal tour guide). She said Flamenco has its origins in the Flemish (hence the name) and the Muslims. This makes a lot of sense, because the outfits and the dance evoke thoughts of Belgium and when they sing it sounds very similar to the chanting of the Muslims. I also tried sangria (wine with fruit juice like orange and apple). I thought it was good, the fruity taste makes it lighter and sweeter than plain wine.