2026 Showcase Application Review

Flamenco music is a form of folk music with a rich history and vocabulary beyond just a Spanish dictionary. During performances we are able to share information about not only the musically components, but also the dance and hand movements and the traditional costumes used. Here are a few terms that are relevant to our performance we are able to share about.

Relevant Club Flamenco Terms:
a golpe
A tap, it can refer to a particular footstep by the dancer or a tap on the guitar, but it can also just refer to any tap (i.e. tapping the table in compás)
alegrías
festive compás of the cantiñas group; one of the cantes chicos
alzapúa
guitar-playing technique that uses solely the thumb
bulerías
song form; an evolving rhythm that started about a century ago
compás
a measure or bar; flamencos use the word to mean both (a) the name of the type of twelve-count and (b) the rhythmic skill of a performer
copla
verse of cante flamenco, as against the cuple of a (non-flamenco) canto
duende
literally, "spirit" of "demon"; suggesting possession. Flamencos may prefer the word ángel or el age
falsetas
solo passages on the guitar, short melodies played at the start and between verses of a song
fandangos
an old family of song forms; thought to be of Moorish in origin; very popular in the early/mid 20th century
letra
copla of a song taken at its literary value; section of a dance when the cantaor/a is singing the lyrics, doing the tercios
llamada
literally "call"; the opening of a dance
malagueñas
song form characterized by its sad, elegiac tone. The city and province of Malaga are considered the home of the flamenco fandango
palmas
hand clapping. It is intricate art, requiring skill and knowledge of compas.
palmas altas
percussive effect performed with the fingers of the right hand on the left palm, resulting in a sharp sound; also called palmas claras and palmas agudas
palmas sordas
muted clapping done with cupped hands (often by the singer); also called palmas graves
palmero
performer of palmas
palo
song form; literally, a suit of cards. Palos fall into two main categories: those done in free rhythm (sin compás) and those done in rhythm (con compás)
por arriba
on guitar - in the hand position for the key of E
por medio
on guitar - in the hand position for the key of A
rasgueado
on guitar, a drumroll effect created by using the backs of the fingers, i.e., the fingernails, striking the strings one after another (held back by the thumb)
remate
way of ending a song, either by raising a pitch, changing to the major, or simply speeding up, in a strong decisive manner
rumbas
a song form influenced by Cuban rumba
sevillanas
non-flamenco song that has been flamencoized in various ways due to its popularity, including the hand and arm movements of the dancers
siguiriyas
heart of cante jondo (deep song). It expresses anguish, lament and despair, and has been described as an outcry against fate and the quintessence of tragic song
soleares
As song, the soleá lies at the heart of flamenco, together with siguiriyas and toná. As dance, it stands alone—at least for women
tangos
probably the oldest flamenco song form in a simple rhythm of 2
4 time, as reflected in the time beaten by the palmeros; not the same as "el tango argentino"