Compas: if you are only going to learn one word, it should be Copmpás. This word is the most important of all as it means rhythm. Therefore if you are out of compas, you are out of time, which is a cardinal sin! Compás also relates to the rhythmic structure as in whether it’s counted four, twelve etc. In my videos, I break down the compass of each dance; demonstrate how to count and claps well as where the accent lies. Baile: The Dance. A Flamenco dancer would be a bailaor/a which is specific to Flamenco dance only. Cante: The cante is the song and therefore the “King” of Flamenco. It is the dancer who should follow the cante, not vice versa. The cante is generally made up of “letras” which is almost like the verse of a song. In both videos, I show you the letra and explain how to dance and what steps you need to use during the cante. Llamada: This means a call, from the verb “llamar” and this is used as a cue that the dancer would give the musicians to close or start a given section. There is a multitude of possible llamadas for each baile but in my videos, I will teach you clear llamadas that any guitarist would recognise. Escovilla: This is a section of footwork within a baile. This adds a lot of drama and excitement to the dance, particularly when it’s between a section that is more lyrical or sombre. Using the many footwork exercises in each video, I will demonstrate effective and dynamic escovillas which you can build on or use as they are.
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