Background
How flamenco began
Where flamenco comes from, how a tradition of Andalusia reached its stages, and what UNESCO says about it, in plain language.
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Wikipedia places flamenco's emergence around the close of the 1700s in the towns of lower Andalusia. UNESCO recognised it as intangible heritage in 2010, as three arts joined together, and places its heart in Andalusia. Flamenco is handed down in families, among friends and in clubs, and Seville's first café for flamenco singing opened in 1881.
Where it comes from
Wikipedia places flamenco's emergence around the close of the 1700s in the towns of lower Andalusia, and calls Andalusia the cradle of the early cantaores, the singers of flamenco. UNESCO places the heart of the art in southern Spain, with roots reaching into Murcia and Extremadura. Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, lies in Andalusia.
A tradition passed through families
UNESCO says the art is handed down in families and dynasties, among friends and in flamenco clubs. That is why flamenco is often described as something learned by living near it. The art does not depend on a written score. Singers, guitarists and dancers learn from each other, and improvised shows draw on that shared knowledge of palos and rhythm. Rooms of every size have carried that exchange, from a family gathering to a stage. Rooms of every size have carried that exchange, from a family gathering to a stage.
From cafés to the stage
Wikipedia says Seville's first café devoted to flamenco singing opened in 1881. Cafés cantantes of the period gave flamenco a regular stage. A tablao, in Wikipedia's account, is a venue for flamenco shows and also the name of the dancers' floor. Small venues like the one on Plaza Santo Cristo carry that tradition forward in a room of a few tables.
Cante jondo and the deep song
Wikipedia describes cante jondo as a vocal style within flamenco, an unspoiled form of Andalusian folk music whose name means deep song. In 1922, it says, the composer Manuel de Falla helped organise a cante jondo competition in Granada, with writers and musicians such as Federico García Lorca taking part. Lorca is also the poet credited with shaping the idea of duende.
Recognition by UNESCO
In 2010 UNESCO recognised flamenco as intangible heritage, describing three arts joined together: singing (cante), dancing (baile) and playing (toque). It also names castanets, clapping and stamping among the accompaniments. That recognition is a reminder that what looks like entertainment is also a living heritage, kept alive by those who perform it.
Why a small room suits it
A small venue puts the audience within a few metres of the singer, guitarist and dancers, which is a long way from a large theatre. Because each show at the Marbella tablao is improvised, and the venue says it has no structure or script, the room and the audience are part of what each night sounds like. UNESCO lists flamenco clubs among the social groups through which the art is passed on, so a small, close room fits how the tradition is shared.
What to take from this
Flamenco is not a costume or a single dance. It is a family of styles, from a region, passed on person to person, recognised by UNESCO, and still performed in small rooms. When you sit down in a tablao, you are hearing something that has been shaped by many generations. That is a good reason to go early, stay quiet and listen well.
Newer instruments
Wikipedia notes that later flamenco musicians introduced new instruments such as the Peruvian cajón. That is one reason the instruments of a show can differ from venue to venue. The Marbella tablao on this site keeps to the instruments of 19th-century flamenco, so a visit there is a chance to hear the older sound of voice, guitar and clapping.
Sources