Language and level: an advanced level of Spanish is required. The course is taught in Spanish.

Students: ISA by WS students

Contact hours: 45

1. Contextualize flamenco dance within its historical development.
2. Recognize the significance of Flamenco as a cultural phenomenon.
3. Analyze the origins of prejudices and stereotypes associated with flamenco.
4. Identify key figures in flamenco history and articulate their contributions to the art form.
5. Understand the aesthetic criteria and structural and expressive elements of flamenco dance.
6. Learn the basic techniques of Flamenco Dance:

• Knowledge, awareness, and body language in flamenco dance.
• Study of rhythm (compás), structure, aesthetics, character, and expression of the palos covered in the course.
• Mastery of braceo (arm movements), marcajes (marking steps), and desplantes (accented movements) as stylistic resources.
• Mastery of zapateado (footwork) and other body-generated sound resources as stylistic elements.
• Understanding the importance of proper use of space, group integration, and communication with the audience.

Section 1. What is Flamenco?

1. Flamenco… What kind of name is that?
2. Understanding the Origins of Flamenco
   2.1. Cultural influences in Andalusia.
   2.2. The inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula: a melting pot of peoples and cultures.
   2.3. The Roma people in history.
   2.4. The five cultures: Christians, Muslims, Roma, Jews, and Africans.
3. Understanding the Aesthetic Criteria of Traditional Flamenco Dance (women's dance, men's dance, and baile gitano (Roma dance) and their transformations in contemporary flamenco.
4. Studying the characteristics of Flamenco Dance in different socio-historical contexts: from the accounts of 19th-century Romantic travelers, through the era of Salons and Cafés Cantantes, theatricalization, Lorca and Cante Jondo, the internationalization of flamenco dance, to the modern era.
5. A glance to the Future: The 21st Century
   5.1. Seville: The role of the Cristina Heeren Foundation, the Cristina Hoyos Flamenco Dance Museum and Teatro Flamenco.
   5.2. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (2010).
   5.3. Fusion and con-fusion: True fusion or simply a flamenco-inspired style?
   5.4. Flamenco beyond Spain.
   5.5. Rosalía: A debate for purists.
6. Understanding the Rhythmic Structure and Stylistic Characteristics of Flamenco Styles: Alegrías (compás de amalgama), Tangos (binary rhythm), and Sevillanas (ternary rhythm).

Section 2. Flamenco en “vivo”. Practical Content.

1. Learning and practicing flamenco footwork and body technique at a basic level:

1.1. Exercise routines: body technique.

Braceo (arm movements) in sixth position.

Variations of marcajes (marking steps) in amalgamated rhythm.

Coordination of arm and body movements in marcajes.

Basic turn techniques.

           1.2. Exercise routines: Footwork technique.

Simple and double exercises: double heel, heel-toe, double toe, toe-heel, heel-slide, double sole...

Ankle articulation: single, double, and triple heels.

Double strikes in amalgamated rhythm.

Simple carretillas (rolling footwork) at double speed.

Arm coordination in escobilla (footwork sequences).

Rhythm acceleration exercises.

1.3. Metronome work in different flamenco rhythms.

1. Learning and Practicing a Short Dance Choreography in Alegrías.
2. Introduction to Sevillanas.

The main Flamenco rhythms: integrated practice through palmas (rhythmic clapping), body technique, and footwork.

To successfully complete this course, attendance is essential as enables the necessary participation. Both spontaneous and prepared interaction are categories used in the evaluation.

For this course it is necessary that you become an active learner. Take the initiative and develop self-study habits to assure you stay on track as we will be covering a lot of material and move quickly.

Final grades will be calculated according to the following scale:

Grade dissemination:

Students will be explained how they will learn of their grades from assignments and assessments.

Grade dispute:

The deadline for claiming grades is 30 days from the receipt of the certificate at the university of origin.

VII. Attendance:

Class attendance is mandatory and is taken every class day and it is reflected in the course attendance sheet.

An 85%* attendance rate is required for the successful completion of the course. Perfect attendance will be taken positively into account in the participation section.

If a student exceeds this limit, 1 point will be taken off of the final grade (Spanish grade). Reaching a 20% of unexcused absences means that the transcript for this subject will show “not attended course”.

Excused absences: Medical Certificates that will be considered only if issued by a physician (not notes from the family explaining the student’s absence). The certificates must include the exact dates for which a student should be excused for having missed classes. Courses cannot be audited, so attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class.

Punctuality: Students are expected to arrive on time to class and to return directly to class after class breaks. Arriving 10 minutes late (or more) and/or early class departures are considered unexcused absences and will be taken into account as half an absence.

*6 hours 45 minutes for a 45-hour course.

VII.II. Conduct in class.

Students who actively participate in classroom activities and who maintain a professional and respectful attitude will be evaluated positively. Students must not eat or use laptops during the class (unless specifically authorized by the teacher). 

VII.III. Late work.

One half point will be taken off (from the learning activities grade) for homework that is submitted late repeatedly. Late assignments will be corrected but will not be graded.

Missing a class does not release the student from completing the homework assigned or studying the topics covered in class that day.

VII.IV. Make-up exams:

If a student cannot be present for an examination for a valid reason (see V.II.) and approved by the teacher and academic direction, a make-up exam will be given.

VII.V. Quizzes retention:

After quizzes are graded, the professor will review the examination with the class and collect all exams. The quizzes will be retained for one semester following the current one, and then they will be destroyed.

VII.VI. Academic Honesty:

Students are expected to act in accordance with their university standards of conduct concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty.

VII.VII. Special accommodations:

Students with special needs who require reasonable accommodations, special assistance or specific aid in this course (either for properly making-up classes, taking exams, etc.) should direct their request to Academic Coordination during the first days of the course in the case that they did not report it when submitting the Health Form.

Teaching staff is required to report any disclosures harassment or violence of any kind.

*Course content subject to change