Flamenco’s Palos Explained

Flamenco is the art of song, guitar and dance that grew up in Andalusia, in southern Spain. In 2010 it was inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Three elements

Flamenco combines cante (song), toque (guitar) and baile (dance), supported by palmas (rhythmic hand-clapping) and jaleo, the shouts of encouragement you hear during a performance.

What is a palo?

A palo is a flamenco form with its own rhythmic cycle, called the compás, and its own emotional character. A few to start with:

• Soleá: deep and solemn, built on a 12-beat cycle.
• Alegrías: bright and festive, also in 12 beats, associated with Cádiz.
• Bulerías: fast and playful, the favourite for improvisation at the end of a gathering.
• Seguiriyas: one of the most intense forms, with an uneven, limping pulse.
• Tangos: a four-beat rhythm, lively and danceable.
• Fandangos: a large family of songs with regional variations.

Counting the compás

In the 12-beat forms, the accents usually fall on beats 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Try clapping along; it is the best way to feel how flamenco breathes.

Flamenco and other Spanish-language styles feature on Ritmo Latino.