Flamenco Educational & Corporate Programs

Presented by Savannah

Bring the passion, history, and rhythm of Spain to your school, community center, or corporate event. These programs offer a deep dive into an art form recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

1. The Educational Presentation: "Movement, History, & Soul"

This 60–90 minute session is designed for schools, universities, and cultural institutions. It includes:

• The Lecture: An engaging talk on the history of Al-Andalus, the Moorish kings, and the arrival of the Roma people in the 15th century. We discuss how flamenco became a "language of survival" during the Spanish Inquisition.

• Modern Relevance: A look at how flamenco evolved from the private Romani family gatherings to global stages, and its current role as a tool for wellness and emotional healing.

• Nuanced Demonstration: A live performance showcasing the different palos (rhythms), highlighting the interplay between the percussive footwork and the emotional "cante" (song).

• Interactive Workshop: A beginner-friendly dance segment where participants learn the basics of compás (rhythm), palmas (hand-clapping), and the proud posture of the dance.

2. Corporate Events & Team Building: "The Rhythm of Connection"

Looking to inspire your team with something unique? Our corporate packages are designed to energize and unite.

• Cultural Keynote: A condensed version of the history and demonstration, focused on the themes of multicultural collaboration and resilience.

• Interactive Breakout: A fun, low-pressure dance class that gets everyone out of their chairs and moving together—building rhythm and collective energy.

• The Flamenco Rumba Party (Optional Add-on): Transition from education to celebration! This features a live Flamenco DJ set focused on Rumba Flamenca (the upbeat, festive style made famous by the Gipsy Kings). It creates a high-energy, sophisticated atmosphere perfect for mixers or holiday parties.

The Origins of Flamenco: A Cultural Fusion

Flamenco is unlike any other art form, drawing from the deep, layered history of Southern Spain. It was born from the splendor of Al-Andalus, the period (711–1492 AD) in which Muslim kings—most notably the Umayyad dynasty—ruled the region. While the rest of Europe was largely mired in the Dark Ages, Southern Spain was a multicultural, bountiful paradise in comparison.

Under Moorish rule, Muslims, Christians, and Jews shared a common culture and lived in relative peace, a concept known as La Convivencia. These Islamic rulers were pioneers in mathematics, medicine, and agriculture, introducing sophisticated irrigation systems and exotic crops that transformed the Spanish landscape.

In the mid-1400s, a new people arrived in Spain: the Roma (often historically referred to as Gitanos). They were musicians and artisans of the highest order, traveling with a rich heritage originating from Rajasthan, India. Their arrival coincided with a dark turning point in history: the Spanish Inquisition (1478) and the fall of Granada in 1492.

As the Roma faced persecution alongside Jews and Muslims who refused to convert, they fled to the rugged mountains of the South. Here, a "chemical reaction" occurred. The deep cultural roots of the traveling Roma merged with the sophisticated remnants of Andalusian and Sephardic Jewish music.

Flamenco was the result of this intersection—it is the complex child of the Inquisition. The Romani are the heartbeat of flamenco; they took the suffering of displacement and the beauty of Al-Andalus to forge an art form that serves as a profound expression of

Where to

Join me at the Theatre Puget Sound

Address

Armory, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109

Hours

by appointment