"El cante" - the essence of flamenco

Many people believe that the dance is the most important element of flamenco but the real source lies in its singing tradition. Early flamenco seems to have been purely vocal, accompanied only by the typical "palmas", the rhythmical clapping of hands.

There has always been a certain structure - texts, rhythms, ..., - on which the singers based their compositions, flamenco is often improvised and spontaneous and the personal interpretation of each "cantaor" has contributed to the overall development of this art form.

Today many of the "cantaores" find inspiration in poets such as Machado, Lorca or M. Hernández. At the same time, the influences of other musical styles have turned flamenco into a cultural phenomenon that reaches more people than ever, especially a young audience.