Gypsies and Flamenco Dancing!

Flamenco is known to be the soul of Andalusia, or Southern Spain.  Flamenco is more than just a dance, it's a forceful artistic expression of the sorrows and joys of life. Flamenco is danced all over Spain, but is traditionally performed by gypsies to the Spanish guitar.

On a cold and rainy night in Granada, we visited a gypsy flamenco show in a long, narrow cave which has been dug out by gypsies over the years. There were brass pots and pans hanging from the white painted ceiling of the cave.

The dancers danced with such force in stomping their heels and toes rapidly on the floor, that the brass decorations on the ceiling shook!

They danced up and down the isle for over an hour.  This dancing is so different than other dancing I've seen in my life.

Mrs. Jackson was chosen from the side to have a whirl of a dance in the gypsy cave!

The next night we went to a professional flamenco show with many dancers, singers, and guitarists.  It was set up in a theater with a stage and tables with white table cloths for dining. Again, the dancing was wonderful!  The costumes were more elaborate at the second show, but photos were not allowed. 

Tomorrow we are having a lesson in flamenco so that we can go home and teach our students!