Flamenco is an art that was born as a result of the union of the musical personality of the gypsy people with the Andalusian folklore, enriched during centuries by the countless cultures that passed through the south of Spain. It is a powerful and intricate dance, a melting pot of many peoples that express their inner feelings and emotions. There are many forms of Flamenco from the Seguiriyas which are a very serious form, talking about pent up hatred of persecution and often with themes of death to the more light-hearted Sevillanas. These are two of the many styles of Flamenco music and dance. The more traditional forms of Flamenco were brought to Spain around the 1500’s by the Gypsies who migrated from India. When they arrived, they were unable to openly express their culture under Catholic rule. In this environment of persecution, they began to express their feelings of suppression and suffering in their songs. This is the reason traditional Flamenco is so intensely tragic in mood and style. During the 19th century Flamenco slowly worked its way into the Andalucian culture and over time the Spaniards accepted the art form and began to perform it themselves, which continues on in today’s Flamenco dance performances, whose music roots are over 500 years old. Flamenco isn’t just music, or a dance. It’s both and much more. It’s an art form consisting of the “cante” (the song-considered the most important factor, the source which gives inspiration), “el toque” (the guitar playing) and “el baile” (the dance). It is one of the few forms of music where not only the music and the singing interact on the level of improvisation and spontaneity, but so does the dance. Proudly lifted bodies with strong graceful arms and hands executing intricate heel beats and footwork expressing at every stage the emotions which lie at the very heart of Flamenco – love, hate, jealousy, pride, anger, the passion of the human spirit; this is Flamenco raised to the level of high art, far removed from the rough Flamenco of the past but the essence of that past, the emotional strength, ever present.