Submitted by Meghan Bohny on the 2017 winter session program in Granada sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
This week was as amazing as I had expected! We delved deeper into our study of the history of Spain, learning about the history of Spanish politics, the Spanish Civil War, and ended with today’s political situation in Spain. We also started our sessions with Collegio Santa María, a local high school, where we had the chance to interact and learn with Spanish students in a new environment.
To enhance our learning experience, we had the opportunity to see a Flamenco show. The art of Flamenco is based on the folkloric music of Southern Spain and has been a documented art form for more than two centuries. A form of art, the dancers, musicians, and vocalists expressed their passion for both the music and for the story it told. The show we attended was a combination of three vocal performances, three dances and one guitar solo featuring lyrics by Federico Garcia Lorca. It was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard before. The vocalists had this unique tone to their voice as if the words came from deep inside them. The guitarist’s fingers moved at the speed of light and played a melody that was soothing one minute and upbeat the next. The dancer performed three times for us, each time in a different dress. The colors on the dress changed as the tone and the rhythm of the music changed. It is truly a form of expression—from the speed at which she moved her feet to the elegance and passion with which she put on a show.
Before traveling to Spain, I had intentions of learning to Flamenco, but after seeing what it truly is, I know for a fact I would be incapable of such elegance. However, if you are like me and dancing is not a talent of yours, I highly recommend purchasing tickets to a Flamenco show to at least have the opportunity to hear and see the passion and the story and the expression that is Flamenco art.