Seville's Flamenco Roots

Studying abroad in a Spanish-speaking country has been a dream of mine since I was in high school. One of the many things I love about studying abroad in Seville is listening to authentic Spanish music. In the major cities of Spain people hear more of a mix of American and Spanish music based on more tourists being there. However, here in Seville, you can see how wherever you are, you will always hear Spanish music. Going out at night, I love to be able to hear more Spanish music than American music, it creates a whole new environment that I love to embrace.

Local park where people hang out to play and listen to music.

Like the music in Colombia, in Seville they play a lot of the genre called Reggaeton. It’s characterized by its repetitive beat rhythm and includes elements of reggae, rap, hip-hop, and electronica. It is very popular here in Seville and many students love to dance to this type of music. I am familiarized with this type of music because my cousins from Colombia always play it. It definitely makes my experience abroad way more fun knowing the words to the songs they play.

Flamenco structure in the center of a shopping center.

Another popular type of music and dance here in Spain is called the Flamenco. Seville’s flamenco roots run deep. Walking through Seville, I notice many Flamenco dances in the streets, the sound of dancers tapping their shoes inside dance classes, people playing their guitars, and even the souvenir stands sell many flamenco-themed items. Here there are many nightly traditional flamenco shows that include a balance of guitar, singing, and dancing that are performed in a small and intimate environment.

Flamenco items in souvenir shops.

Flamenco isn’t a type of dance seen in the nightlife of Spain; it’s an art. While in other countries like Colombia, traditional social dances, like salsa, can be seen dancing at clubs and easy enough to get the hang of to enjoy at a club. This type of social dance is popular not only for adults but also for teenagers to dance together in pairs. Therefore I would say that in some cases the music scene in Seville is somewhat similar to the United States because at the club people don’t necessarily dance together in pairs.

Flamenco street performance.

My friends and I love the type of music they play in Seville, it is very easy to dance to and has a fun and uplifting beat that makes you want to dance. Even if you don’t know the words in Spanish the beat is so catchy, many people I know enjoy listening to Spanish music. Although some places play popular music from the U.S., for the most part, Seville has a genuine Spanish culture that embraces their music and language. If you’re looking for a fun, local Spanish music scene, Seville is calling your name.

Center where many Flamenco artists and dancers perform.

Daniella S. is the Fall 2016 CEA MOJO in Seville, Spain. She is currently a junior studying Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

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