More Tips for Flamenco Dancing

By  August 7, 2009

Top Five Hardest Things to Grasp When Learning Flamenco (but don’t be fooled, none of it is really easy)

1:  Remembering all the moves.
There are a lot of dance moves one after the other and it’s extremely hard to remember them all.  

2:  Coordinating the feet with the hands.
First the feet move, then the hands are doing something completely different and it’s hard to remember exactly what the feet should be doing.  

3:  Understanding your teacher’s Spanish.
There are a lot of specific dance terms.  For example, Compso is a bar of music.  Who’d have thought?  And they speak really quickly.

4:  The shoes are brutally uncomfortable.
The shoe shop says the shoes need to fit tightly but if you don’t wear high heels regularly then you definitely won't be used to it.  Either way your feet get incredibly sore.

5:  It’s embarrassing.
You just have to pretend that no one else is watching and suck up your pride.


Top 5 Most Frustrating Things for Flamenco Dance Teachers


1:  There’s no 1,2,3,4… so stop counting!
It’s all about the feel.  Your feet do what they want, your hands move as they want.  There’s no “English” beat.

2:  It takes more than a day.
People come in and want a quick flamenco fix.  It’s not like buying a Spanish souvenir.  It takes time!

3:  It’s going to hurt.
Sometimes tourists see really fat people dancing flamenco and figure if they can do it, so can I.  You don’t have to be thin to dance flamenco, but you have to have endurance and be strong.

4:  The costume is only one part of the experience.
Sure the costumes are amazing, but putting roses in your hair and a fancy dress on doesn’t make you a dancer.  You have to feel it!

5:  No Hablo Ingles
There’s no “English” in flamenco…Perdon.


Flamenco Schools in Barcelona

Gracia Flamenca

Flamenco Alicianet

Flamenco In Barcelona

Add this article to your reading list
Published in Sidebars
Sam Mednick

Sam is a Canadian journalist currently based in South Sudan. Over the past 12 years she’s reported on humanitarian, human interest and conflict stories from around the world. Sam’s work has taken her to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, South America and Europe, writing for VICE, the Associated Press, Devex, Barcelona Metropolitan, iPolitics amongst others. Sam also produces and hosts the Happy Melly Podcast, interviewing authors, speakers and thought leaders about what it takes to live productive and fulfilling lives. Previously, Sam lived in Barcelona for almost 10 years and hosted its first English weekly radio show, Fuel4Fridays.

Join the Verge Community

Verge Magazine Membership


Join our community of savvy travellers and put nearly two decades of inspiring articles, authoritative information and expert advice to work for you.

Show me more > Login >

 

Travel Intelligence Bulletin

Namibia

The latest openings overseas—direct to your inbox.

Subscriber Login

About

Travel with purpose; travel for good. Articles, resources and events for ethical and meaningful travel, volunteering, working and studying abroad.

Verge believes in travel for change. International experience creates global citizens, who can change our planet for the better. This belief is at the core of everything we do.

Like what you see?

Follow us on social media