Undoubtedly, Spain is one of the countries whose folklore enjoys worldwide recognition. Not only is Spanish cuisine very popular, but also dances such as Bolero, Paso Doble and of course Flamenco. Flamenco is an expressive Spanish solo dance characterized by hand clapping, rhythmic footwork and intricate hand, arm and body movements. We'll tell you what you need to look like an authentic flamenco dancer. A Spanish costume impresses with beautiful colors, details and accessories that go wonderfully with the festive atmosphere of a carnival.
Origin of flamenco dance
Flamenco dance and the accompanying guitar music come from southern Spain, the Andalusian region associated with the Roma or Gypsies. In Spain the Roma are called Gitanos. The Gitanos were believed to have migrated from northwest India in the 9th to 14th centuries and used tambourines, bells and wooden castanets as musical instruments. Flamenco is the result of Roma music mixed withthe rich culturesthe Sephardic Jews and the Moors, who also live in southern Spain. If you look closely at flamenco dance, you may notice arm, hand, and foot movements that are very similar to those of classical Hindu dance of the Indian subcontinent.
What does it take to be a flamenco dancer?
Flamenco dancers, known as bailaores and bailaoras, are very passionate. At the beginning the dancer often stands motionless and expressionless. As soon as he feels the music, he starts clapping his hands loudly. Meanwhile, his emotions develop. Dancing often involves vigorous stomping, sometimes made louder with foot percussion, and graceful arm movements. Castanets are sometimes held in the hands and occasionally large hand fans are used for visual effect.
Flamenco dress
During her performance, the flamenco dancer usually wears a beautiful dress that moves back and forth with her movements. These are the main features of the flamenco dress:
- figure-hugging and reaches to the ankles
- decorated with ruffles and flounces on the sleeves and skirt
- usually has a strong color or a striking pattern
The Spanish Manton cloth
Shawls around the shoulders or hips are the perfect addition to your flamenco outfit. The classic flamenco scarf is called Manton and is fascinating not only because of the pretty embroidery, but also because of the long fringes. The thicker and more complex the knots of the fringe are, the higher quality the scarf is. It is square and should be at least 140cm x 140cm (excluding the fringes) for dancing. However, there are also smaller models that are well suited for a Spanish costume. A simple floral shawl with fringes can help you create a sophisticated flamenco look. Of course, if you are in doubt about the color, go for red!
3 ideas on how to tie and wear a Manton scarf
When deciding on styling, you must first consider your figure and height. The type of flamenco dress (especially the neckline) that you will wear also plays an important role. We will show you three ways to tie the Manton cloth.
1. The easiest way is to fold the Manton cloth into a large triangle and drape it over your shoulders. The ends meet directly under the chest, at waist level. Fasten the shawl at the front with a brooch and let the fringe fall over the arms.
Another option is to place the shawl in the same line that runs along the front and back necklines. To achieve this, use two brooches. One attaches at the front and the other at the back. This look looks more elegant and shows off your beautiful neck.
In the third variant, the ends are crossed at the front and tied together over the hips. The cloth covers the back and falls over the shoulders. You may be able to attach small safety pins to the inside of the dress to secure the ends without knotting them.
Which shoes? High heels or wedge heels
There are special flamenco shoes that have a wide and low heel. They usually have two straps that ensure optimal comfort while dancing. These shoes are usually available in black, white or with a polka dot pattern. The combination of red and black is very popular in both dresses and shoes.
If you don't want to buy flamenco shoes specifically for carnival, you can choose another suitable variant. Classic espadrilles with a wedge heel or other shoes with a medium heel would be ideal. If you want to dance all evening and night, the shoes should above all be comfortable.
Spanish fan
The hand fan is not onlyon warm summer daysa useful accessory. In flamenco it is seen as a symbol of elegance and can convey feelings and hidden passions. The posture and appearance of the fans allow for a new form of expression and celebrate women's femininity. Flamenco fans are slightly larger than the others and come in many colors and patterns. Contrary to what you might imagine, they never go out of style!
castanets
Even if you don't know how to play, get castanets as an accessory to your Spanish costume!The popular percussion instrumentsBy the way, you can also make them out of wooden spoons. This is how it works:
- Saw off the front part of the wooden spoons and sand the edges smooth.
- Drill two holes on each spoon.
- Thread a thick string through the holes and tie it together so that a finger fits through the loop.
- Finally, paint and decorate the castanets as you wish.
Eye-catching earrings
The earrings are an important part of the flamenco dancer's outfit. These should be big and eye-catching and attract everyone's attention. If you wear flowers or other jewelry in your hair, use earrings of the same color. Coral or crimson earrings are one of the most popular flamenco accessories.
You can also wear colorful plastic bracelets and several necklaces. Most of the time, however, the large earrings are completely sufficient.
Hair Comb
Another typical Spanish piece of jewelry is the decorative comb called Peineta, which is inserted into the hairstyle. Peineta combs were very common since the late eighteenth century and were worn at weddings, baptisms, Holy Week processions, bullfights, traditional flamenco music shows (coplas). Today they are mostly made from synthetic materials such as acrylic or plastic.
Flower headdress
To look like an authentic flamenco dancer, you definitely need a lush floral headpiece. These are usually large silk flowers or artificial flowers, but you can also use real flowers. The flowers are placed anywhere on the head and are a real eye-catcher.
We've put together some of the most beautiful ways you can really show off your floral headpiece.
A single flower in the middle of the top of the head
The shape of your face will determine the location of the flower and comb. For round or heart-shaped faces, it is recommended that the flower be placed on the top of the head. For elongated and angular faces it is usually attached to the side of the hair. If the face is elongated, the flower should be about five fingers away from the forehead. And if the face is round, the distance should be only three fingers from the hairline.
Flower pinned to the side of the head
Another option would be to give the hairstyle an asymmetrical character and pin the flower on the side at approximately ear level. This styling is perfect for elongated faces.
If you want to add a comb, it should be on the opposite side of the head and not behind the flower. This also depends on the shape of the comb and how well it fits the flower.
Two flowers placed symmetrically on the left and right of the head
In this case we have two flowers on either side of the head, giving the hairstyle a sense of symmetry. What is important here is that they are at a medium height, neither low nor high, and that there is sufficient distance from the ear. The stems can be crossed.
Cascading flowers on one side
This look is quite spectacular. Since the flowers are close to the face, their color should match your complexion well. If you want to wear a lot of flowers in the shape of a waterfall in your hair, they must not be the same size or placed “perfectly”. We don't want to make a straight flower wreath, but rather a natural and irregular bouquet. When it comes to makeup, red lips and smokey eyes always work.
Matching hairstyle to the Spanish costume
If you want to give your flamenco look an urban and modern touch, you cando a braided hairstyle. There are different braiding techniques. Whether simple or complicated, each braid looks like a little masterpiece when complemented with a flower or a comb.
You can also combine flowers of different sizes. For example, in the example above we see a large bouquet of flowers and small flowers distributed through the braids. In addition, decorative combs are placed symmetrically at the back of the head. The visual result is a classic flamenco look with a cheerful and original touch.
Integrated into the bun
The perfect trio: A low bun embellished with flowers and a comb. The flowers are placed in a semicircle above the bun. In this case, the hairdresser opted for simple red carnations, which he combined with two silver hair clips.
The Spanish woman costume is a great disguise with which you would definitely attract everyone's attention at the next carnival or theme party. The fiery Spanish dancer could even be accompanied by a bullfighter and a small bull.
