Flamenco is a genuine Spanish art, and to be more exact a genuine Southern Spanish art which is a form of Spanish folk music and dance from the region of Andalusia in southern Spain usually performed by Romani people. It includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance) and jaleo, which refers to the vocalizations and rhythmic sounds of palmas (hand clapping) and pitos (finger snapping) that encourage performers to excel.
Gipsies are very often named as the fathers of Flamenco, and at least it can be taken for certain that they played an important part in its creation. But also the popular songs and dances of Andalusia have influenced early Flamenco considerably. Certainly there were other influences, too, as it is no surprise in a country that has been dominated by most diverse cultures and civilizations during its different historical epochs.
In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world and is taught in many countries, especially in the United States and Japan. In Japan there are more flamenco academies than there are in Spain. On November 16, 2010 UNESCO declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Flamenco, genuine Spanish art
