The traditional dance of the gypsies of Andalusia in southern Spain, Flamenco dancing rose to popularity in the early 19th century as café entertainment. Flamenco combines dancing with acoustic guitar, chanting and staccato hand-clapping. Passion and emotion are the hallmarks of the flamenco. When performed, it's not unusual to hear shouts of encouragement of "baile! baile!--- dance! dance!" from the audience.
The paso doble (meaning two step), is a lively, quick dance modeled after the story of Spanish bullfights. At times, it is almost march-like in its 1-2 step precision, with one dancer portraying the toreador, or bullfighter, and the other playing the role of the cape. The male usually dances with a puffed up chest and with the head tilted forward and down, resembling a bull. The female swishes and swirls around him. Unlike many dances, most of the paso doble's forward steps lead with the heel, not the toe. When the dance became popular with the Parisian upper class in the 1930's it acquired a set of French names for many of the steps.
Noble and restrained, the bolero, Spain's national dance, is a slower dance, meant to draw out the feelings of love. You may remember that Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" music became known in the 1979 film, "10," as it was playing when Bo Derek attempted to seduce Dudley Moore. The main step of the bolero is a long side step that sweeps to the side on the slow beat, followed by step forward or backward on the quick beats. When the bolero gained popularity, it replaced its counterpart, the fandango.
The Jota, the national folk dance of Aragon, in northeastern Spain, originated in the 1700s. This folkloric favorite is another quick-tempo dance featuring couples with their hands raised high above their heads playing castanets. The steps are not unlike the waltz. Guitars, lutes, bagpipes and drums are often part of the music to which La Jota is danced. It is also a dance that can be interpreted in many ways. Slower versions are danced at funerals while faster versions can include jumping and cheering.
The sevillana is reminiscent of the flamenco, with dancers using castanets and bells but in a slightly less frenetic pace. An old folk dance, the sevillana - also known as the sequedilla - is often danced at feasts and festivals by people of all ages and sexes. A very specific dance, there are at least nine different steps in each section and four sections in the overall dance. One way to perform it is with a group of people, lined up and dancing in strict 3/4 rhythm.