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Personally, I was blown away at the beautiful traditional dances of Spain as well as their elegant and colorful attire that accompanies it. I was happy to learn that the instrument the Hurdy-gurdy is used in Spain. Funny fact… I know someone here in Portland who owns and plays the Hurdy-gurdy. Looking at the culture behind the music and dancing of Spain I was left almost jealous of their traditions. The region of Alba I thought had the most colorful and ornate. The costumes they create are covered in flowers and complement the dresses very nicely. I was also happy to see the bagpipes being used for something other than Scottish music. It is interesting to me to see the instruments that have migrated from other areas to find a home in the Spanish tradition.

The link I am including this week looks deeper into the creation of music and dance in Spain. It even offers a few samples to listen to as well as samples of sheet music to better understand the timing behind the different styles. I found it quite interesting.

https://folkways.si.edu/an-exploration-of-spanish-music-and-dance-traditions/tools-for-teaching/smithsonian

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What I noticed first in the dancing rituals in Zamora were the outfits, they are intricate and quite stylized and made me think deeper about how beautiful each culture is within its performing arts, and music and dancing particularly. I was surprised by how northern european the music sounded, and the ways that you can see how cultures really developed through each other and have elements you see to and from other cultures.

I enjoyed this article about women dancing at the Santa Ana celebration. It seems like traditionally, and for the most part still, the dance is done by men, but the woman are making space to be able to dance in the celebrations well.

https://nuevecuatrouno.com/2019/07/27/cervera-gaita-femenino-cofradia-no-revueltos-santa-ana/

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The videos and articles this week were really interesting, and certainly not what I expected them to be. Like most of us Americans, I typically think of flamenco when I think of traditional Spanish dances. Hearing that flamenco is really only attributed to Andalucía was pretty surprising, and it was even more surprising realizing that most traditional Spanish dances are quite different from flamenco. In fact, most of the dances felt a great deal more European influenced than flamenco. This was due to everything from the instruments used, to the clothing (especially the women’s dresses), to the melody of the music played. If you showed me any of these videos without any of the singing and told me it was from Northern Europe, I would probably believe you. I’m no musician, but I think the instruments used were the most surprising to see. The drums, bagpipes, and wind instruments kept the music far more varied than I expected, and all of them are ones I've found used quite a lot in other cultures (bagpipes in particular). Moreover, I think stereotype that flamenco sets made me expect quite a lot of guitar use, but there was none of that in any of the videos.

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Dance, culture and everything in between 

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Dance, culture and everything in between 

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In regards to the readings I thought it was so interesting that each “comarca” has its own outfit and variation of the music. This makes me think about your local community and how close you could feel if you have your own traditions within the culture of your country. Events and festivals such as Aguedas definitely bring people closer. I thought it was beautiful that random people can join the dance. The readings also mentioned a fashion show that was inspired by the embroidery that characterized the region of Alba. This makes me think of how traditions can always coexists with innovation. I truly enjoyed the designs as well as the meaning behind it.

In regards to the dances I enjoyed seeing the videos and learning about the different regional styles in Zamora. Dance has the magical ability to transmit culture in a blink of an eye .For the dancer every movement counts, for the musician every melody means something and for the spectator   it stages an emotional show, a collusion of senses. Music indeed takes us somewhere else, to the past and future generations that makes us who we are today. These dances made me think of the cultures behind each dance, how this dances have evolved through time and how they continue to be a big part of Spanish traditions.         Some of these instruments reminded me of many cultures put together and are definitely a representation of Spanish rich and diverse history .Coming from Latin America I can tell you we take traditional dances seriously. I have learned a bit about dances with both African as well as native influences but I barely knew about the influence of Spaniards in Latin Dances. I found this cool article about it and although it’s not specific from Zamora, it tells us the similarities of instruments and clothing of some of the main folklore dances.

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Spanish dances have withstood the hands of time, remaining surprisingly consistent and fixed in their unique choreography. Despite centuries of external pressure from evolving migrant caravans, zealous political figures, and major changes in Spanish society itself, the tradition of dancing persists. Spain is only about twice the size of Oregon, but it packs quite a punch of cultural delight and beauty within its relatively small borders. This vibrant country keeps its culture alive by embracing the glory, history, and living story of Spanish dance.

History of Spanish Dances

Spanish dances reflect the tumultuous history of Spain itself. Even before the 15th century, regional dances and music were an integral part of life and culture for the people of Spain . Although many of these dances have ritualistic and war-related origins, the Spaniards' creative spark transformed Spanish dance. They pushed it into a new realm of free-flowing movements that developed into the dances we see today. By the 20 th century, Francisco Franco's dictatorship threatened the traditional dances of Spain. His desire to streamline the culture led to the ban of regional dances and their music for 35 years. After his death, the people of Spain filled the air with traditional music and danced with every ounce of pride they felt for the creativity, movement, and sound that had once defined their region.

Types of Spanish Dance

At one point, there were over 200 traditional and distinct Spanish dances. Although there are not as many today, we can still see the reflection of those dances in modern interpretations. The current well-known Spanish dances are combinations of those older choreographies that embody the spirit of the country and its people.

Jota Aragonesa

The Jota is a typical dance from northern Spain, which most likely originated in Aragón. It has spread to many different regions in the country where distinct groups have put their own touches on the dance. It features a quick-paced tempo as couples dance with their hands raised above their heads. They sometimes play castanets, which are percussion instruments made of two ivory or hardwood shells joined on one side by a cord and held within the palms of the hand. Other times they simply move their hands as if they had castanets.

Music: Guitars, bandurrias, lutes, dulzaina, and drums accompany the Castilian style of the Jota. The Galicians, though, use bagpipes, drums, and bombos, a type of bass drum.

Costumes: Interpreters of the Jota dress in regional costumes that reflect the history of their particular people group.

Sardana

In what's considered the "national dance" of Catalonia, multiple couples dance in circles using short, bouncy steps to move back and forth. While they start small, the circles grow bigger as more dancers participate, which acts as an artistic expression of unity.

Music: To perform the Sardana, the dancers need an 11-member band called a cobla. Various brass and woodwind instruments comprise the cobla, with the flaviol (similar to the flute) leading the group. The tambourine and bass help keep the beat for the dancers.

Costumes: Interestingly, this dance has no official dress. Because it is used to express unity, the dancers should wear their everyday clothes so they can communicate their desire for harmony between individuals from various walks of life.

Muñeira

Both pairs and individuals dance along to the music of the gaita, a form of bagpipe. T his traditional and playful dance is typical throughout Galego, Spain. Also known as Galicia, this place is an autonomous Celtic community recognized by the government of Spain. The title of the dance means "millstone" and "miller's wife" in the community's regional language of Galician. The measured movements are equivalent to those of a jig or lively folk music in compound meter.

Music: Bagpipes and castanets weave together in a fast-paced, lively tempo that energizes the dancers. This prompts loads of jumping, kicking, and improvising in a cheerful, spirited expression of this Celtic art.

Zambra

The zambra is a passionate and sensual "barefoot Flamenco" style dance, known for having different influences. It began as a Moorish dance then morphed into a traditional dance for gypsy weddings. The Spaniards have kept it alive by adapting it to the Spanish dance customs of Flamenco. However, it is highly distinct from contemporary Flamenco. In zambra, the dancer does not wear shoes and the music accompaniment normally features a woman's voice in deep song.

Music: The cante jondo , also known as deep song or Gypsy song, guides the zambra dance with its unique sound. One prominent note provides the foundation for the melody, which is then led by the guitar. Foreign influences have greatly influenced t his style of song over the years. It now frequently utilizes the flamenco guitar coupled with Middle Eastern melodies and rhythms. This gives the cante jondo a fuller sound with beautiful highs and a tight low end.

Costumes: The costume used for Zambra includes a full skirt with ruffled edges and several underskirt layers that can be wielded as a cape. The look is completed with a blouse tied under the bust baring the midriff and a wide hip scarf with or without coins.

Bolero

The bolero is one of the oldest and most traditional of the Spanish dances. In contrast to many others, the bolero was primarily a dance for a solo female performer whose hand and arm would move in sync to the accompaniment of castanets. The dance consists of sharp turns and revolutions of the body, with short quick rushes of two or three steps, going to one side, then to the other. The beating steps (called battements ) are set in time to the music. When there is a sudden pause in the tune, the dancer stops rigidly in a picturesque pose, bending her body slightly backward, her hands on her hips, and her head erect and defiant.

Music: A slow Rumba-style music provides the beat for the bolero. However, many contemporary dancers use any song that has a very slow beginning, a faster-paced middle, and a slow end to it.

Costume: As a dance, bolero has evolved tremendously over the last two centuries and has tweaked its style along with the various costumes that show off its purpose. Some more traditional female dancers still use large, wide skirts with a frilled bottom and a long-sleeved shirt. Other dancers, though, wear a sleek, tight dress with slits on either side of a long skirt to highlight the various movements of their legs.

Fandango

There is some controversy about the origins of this dance, but it seems likely that it was born in Andalusia, Spain. Although it started as a folk dance, it was later copied and modified in other parts of the world. At one point the fandango was the most famous dance of Spain, where dancers usually "compete" to expand upon one another's movements. Some movements include snapping their fingers or using castanets. The rhythm signaled by these maneuvers escalates throughout the song, making it a lively, happy Spanish dance.

Music: The Spanish both dance and sing the Fandango. Regardless, foot-stomping, hand-clapping (or palmas), castanets, and a clean, crisp guitar sound usually accompany the Fandango.

Costumes: Like many Spanish dances, the Fandango dancers use a particular costume. The woman's dress is detailed with black lace, which contrasts the bright color of her short dress. Likewise, the man's embellished vest reflects the details sewn into the woman's dress.

Watch the Fandango here!

Paso doble

The Paso doble has a rich history with Spanish and French roots, danced as an embodiment of the Spanish bullfight. This quick one-step dance is a performance of great pride, arrogance and strength displayed by the man, who represents the , or bullfighter, while the woman dances around him with graceful curves as she morphs into the bullfighter's cape that taunts the bull.

- or during the dramatic moments just before the Music: This dance requires a fast-paced beat as it allows the torero kills the bull torero to showcase his strength and prowess in movement. A good example is the traditional music faena, which is played during a bullfighter's entrance into the ring - the One song in particular, the "Spanish Gypsy Dance," has become the universal anthem of the Paso Doble.

Costumes: The costume is central to this dance, as it represents the full story of the bullfight in action. The man often wears a traditional bullfighter's costume while the woman, acting as the cape, wears a long circular skirt whose sensual fluid movement enhances the drama of the dance.

Flamenco

A soulful, passionate dance that originated with the Roma (gypsies) in Andalusia, Spain, flamenco has become internationally known for its emotionally riveting dance moves, hard foot stamping in rhythm with the guitar, and intense outpour of palpable sentiments. Finger snapping, hand clapping, and shouting accompany the song and dance.

Music: The core of flamenco lies with the music since the , or song, sets the tone of the entire dance. There are three forms of song in flamenco: profoundly tragic and deep, moderately serious, or light in themes of love and nature.

Costumes: Women wear colorful dresses with multi-layered sleeves and skirts - batas de cola - to add dramatic flair to their movements. Although the women's costumes are much more elaborate than the men's, the gentlemen also wear impressive costumes. Their attire mimics the style of the traditional 's costume that was worn during bullfights.

It Takes Two

Spanish dances have a clear and present impact on dance all over the world. It continues to evolve and grow into new forms of artistic expression for those who choose to dance and embody them. The dancer and the dance develop a special bond, which is one of the most sacred expressions in the human experience. One dance in particular, Flamenco, has proved to be of such value to Spanish culture itself. In terms of defining and characterizing it, that UNESCO has named it an "Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Learning any of the aforementioned Spanish dances is an exceptional way to open your horizons. These dances open the door to learning more Spanish and provide the perfect excuse to travel to Spain!

For the Love of Latin Dance

Are you looking to learn more about dance in Latin countries? Look no further! We visited a Guatemalan Latin dance instructor named Martin to give us the best tips on how to cha-cha-cha and more.

In this video, you'll see how to shake your chest and hips in dances like the Bachata- native to the Dominican Republic- the Merengue, and the Cha-cha-cha. You'll even learn some salsa steps from Puerto Rico. You don't want to miss it!

Can't get enough Spanish language and culture? Check these out!

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Spanish Dances From Spain to Latin America: Heritages of Humanity

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Spanish dances have withstood the hands of time, remaining surprisingly consistent and fixed in their unique choreography. Despite centuries of external pressure from evolving migrant caravans, zealous political figures, and major changes in Spanish society itself, the tradition of dancing persists.

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My first impression of the videos/pics were how beautiful and intricate the region of Carbajales de Alba dancer’s outfits were. I also think the Fiestas de las Águedas seems like a fun time! Dancing, wine, and pastries? Yes. The typical dances of Zamora were powerful. Having Spanish roots, I felt something deep inside me stirring at the sight and sound of the dances. It made me proud of my heritage. It made me think these typical dances are very special to the people from Spain in Zamora. What surprised me the most was the use of bagpipes in the dances. It seemed odd to me. One instrument that I enjoy, used in the art of flamenco, the castanets. They are so fun! In modern times, it is essentially for the flamenco dance

Further research has resulted in this link, with a brief history of the instrument. Fun stuff!

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History of castanets

The castanets are a percussion instrument characteristic of the Spanish Flamenco music, which has a distinctive sound different from any other instrument, along with the classical Spanish Flamenco guitar, these instruments are part of the folklore and culture of this country.

Castanets are more than three thousand years old, its invention is attributed to the Phoenicians who developed the first castanets or "palillos", using common wood, thanks to the commercial trade the Castanets were expanded all over the Mediterranean sea, focusing on countries like the present-day Croatia and Italy . However, it was Spain who embraced castanets within their culture, giving them the place and importance they have today, especially in Flamenco music.

This way, although castanets are a landmark in Flamenco music, they are generally used in other Spanish folkloric expressions too. In fact, the castanets are also part of the Portuguese and other countries in Latin America folklores. Finally, the castanets are a key element in dance and in the rhythmic structure of various musical compositions, they are one of the most interesting and old percussion instruments that have survived the pass of time until becoming the symbol of an entire culture and, mainly, the symbol of the Spanish Flamenco.

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History of castanets | Barcelona y Flamenco

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The castanets are a percussion instrument characteristic of the Spanish Flamenco music, which has a distinctive sound different from any other instrument, along with the classical Spanish Flamenco guitar, these instruments are part of the folklore and culture of this country. Castanets are more than three thousand years old, its invention is attributed to the ...

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The way I think of the dances, music, and attires in all the videos provided is that they look and sound pretty much the same to me even though it’s said that they are all different from each other! But maybe because I’m not really sensitive to recognize differences. But I can see that most costumes are very colorful. Especially, the attire of the region of Alba is very ornate. It looks like it's designed with various kinds of flowers. The flowers could be local flowers of the town. The dances look rhythmic and cheerful. The music reminds me of the background music from the video game Witcher 3, and you know what I mean if you have played that video game before. As well, I can see that the music and dance are very different from Korean traditional dance and music. Overall, their traditional dance makes me want to go visit the town and to learn it.

Below is the link to pictures of Korean and Spanish traditional dance and music. You can see the difference between them.

https://feelnews.tistory.com/249

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Jaafar JamaThe typical dances of Zamora are very impressive. I like the amazing embroidery of the skirts and scarves. It is a community affair where people join together to celebrate cultural festivities and have fun. The choreography is also fascinating.    I like how the shoes are used as an instrument along with the tambourine, drums, bagpipes and flutes. I also like the uniqueness—every community dance and style of clothing is distinctive. This is my kind of folklore and tradition.  It happens outdoors—and even the bystanders are moved by the music and dance, and join the dancers. The thing that surprises me the most are the heavy clothes.  I thought that they would be too hot for dancing. I was also surprised to see that the dancers were mostly young people. I was expecting traditional dances to be performed by older people. I thought the young people would not be too interested in traditional dances.  The following link provides information on the diversity of traditional clothes and instruments by region. It also provides a history of the dances and who performs them. The colors, embroidery and designs are elegant. It looks like the seamstresses and tailors do an incredible job of designing.  It grabs your attention. The link provides additional information about the costumes, dances and regions. There is quite a bit of artistry in each region. I am amazed to see that communities continue to hold on to and keep practicing their traditions, music, dance, and folklore to keep it all alive.     

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Jaafar JamaThe typical dances of Zamora are very impressive. I like the amazing embroidery of the skirts and scarves. It is a community affair where people join together to celebrate cultural festivities and have fun. The choreography is also fascinating.    I like how the shoes are used as an instrument along with the tambourine, drums, bagpipes and flutes. I also like the uniqueness—every community dance and style of clothing is distinctive. This is my kind of folklore and tradition.  It happens outdoors—and even the bystanders are moved by the music and dance, and join the dancers. The thing that surprises me the most are the heavy clothes.  I thought that they would be too hot for dancing. I was also surprised to see that the dancers were mostly young people. I was expecting traditional dances to be performed by older people. I thought the young people would not be too interested in traditional dances.  The following link provides information on the diversity of traditional clothes and instruments by region. It also provides a history of the dances and who performs them. The colors, embroidery and designs are elegant. It looks like the seamstresses and tailors do an incredible job of designing.  It grabs your attention. The link provides additional information about the costumes, dances and regions. There is quite a bit of artistry in each region. I am amazed to see that communities continue to hold on to and keep practicing their traditions, music, dance, and folklore to keep it all alive.     

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1. 1. OUR SCHOOL: SAN JUAN BAUTISTA - LA SALLE SPANISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCES Spain's traditional music is essentially a multi-faceted mosaic of the many cultures of Spain's long and colorful history. For this reason, the traditional music and dance vary as you travel from region to region. For the fourth part of our project "Traditional Music and Dances" we would like to share with all of you some of The Spanish Traditional Dances that are typical from some of our regions. You will learn a bit about: Jota. The fast tempo jota originally hails from Aragón but is popular - with minor modifications - throughout the rest of Spain. With probable Moorish influences, the jota is typically danced in two's as couples raise their hands above their heads playing castanets. Flamenco. Attributed to Andalucía's persecuted gypsy culture, flamenco is a passionate form of music and dance combining Jewish, Moorish and Andalucían influences. Paso Doble. The paso doble is a quick and lively one-step traditional Spanish dance. Sardana. Danced in a closed circle by several couples joined at the hands, the sardana is a popular form of traditional Spanish music and dance from Cataluña. Muñeira. Whether alone or in two's, the muñeira - or "Miller's Dance" - is a typical dance in Galicia and Asturias accompanied by soulful bagpipe music.

2. 2. CANTABRIA Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community (province of Biscay), on the south by Castile and León (provinces of León, Palencia and Burgos), on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea (Bay of Biscay). Regional Customs It can be a differentiation and description of the different regional costumes of Cantabria according to the different geographical locations of the autonomous region. We have chosen the traditional one from the mountains. Women's custom The Catabrian Montañés regional costume for women consists of: Shirt: Strong home canvas with very wide sleeves. Skirt: long, four or six fingers above the ankle, in cloth, being the most common tones bright orange, green and yellow. At the bottom, one or two strips of black velvet. Tights: Knee-length white or blue. Footwear: black cloth shoes. Jewls: colorful necklaces and long earrings. Headdress: silk or cotton floral scarves with brilliant tones.

3. 3. Men's Custom The Cantabrian Montañés regional custome for men is formed by: Shirt: strong home canvas, long up to the knees, open up the chest, closing with thread with the shape of candy buttons. Trousers: made of thin cloth. Vest: silk carved with tiny and colorful prints. Jacket: made of dark cloth, short, without rolling, round-tipped or peak, sleeve straight. Band: silk or worsted wool, red, blue, green, purple... Footwear: tall and strong in the natural color of the leather. Headdress: High hat of black felt. Complements: Pinto stick. CANTABRIAN DANCES Dances, songs and popular music of Cantabria are very rich. Throughout the year, especially between San Juan and San Miguel, parties which combine two types of attraction occur by peoples: the religious celebration in honor of the patron saints and the Virgin of the place and the pagan amusements with more or less survival of folk traditionally. Processions, music and dances, Holy cults and folk competitions, composed a classical picture that is repeated with little variation.

4. 4. Both songs and traditional dances of the mountain, and even the regional costume, are an elemental elegance, but next to the simple marzas, Maya and picayos (almost bare recitation) find other events more complicated, such as La Danza de Ibio, the Baile de las Lanzas (in Ruiloba), the Trepeletré (in Liébana). TYPICAL INSTRUMENTS The vocal melodies are accompanied by tambourines, whistles, drums, castanets and a rebec (medieval string instrument). Rebec Rabel

5. 5. CATALUÑA Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, with the official status of a nationality. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the center of one of the largest metropolitan areas in Europe. Regional Customs Women's custom The Catalan regional costume for women consists of several elements: The "bully", a net made of thread that adorns his head and gives them comfort when dancing. Velvet black dress, in the case of the "pubilla's" dress (formerly known as the heiress daughter of a family), or white shirt for the "Catalan" suit (implying that it was a woman's farmhouse worker.) The "mantellina" or "Mantell" can be of lace or other fabrics that women wear to cover their shoulders. The "mitenes" are nets made of the same material as the bully and used to cover the arms, from the elbow to the middle of the thumb and the top of the other four fingers. Petticoats are pieces of fine white linen, which go under the skirt to add volume. The skirt made of linen and decorated with floral motifs. An apron placed over the skirt, usually black. Jewels, with ornamental function, brooches and earrings highlight women.

6. 6. Men's Custom The Catalan regional custome for men is formed by: The "black barretina" that is the red and black cap that covers the head. A white linen or cotton shirt or blouse. The "jupetí", a black velvet vest that covers the shirt. "Faixa", a strip between 30 and 50 cm wide that holds the shirt and the "jupetí" by the lumbar zone. Knee-length black velvet trouser. The traditional footwear was the esparto canvas shoes although at the moment also moccasin shoes are used. CATALONIAN DANCE As the Catalan part of our cultural identity, in Barcelona events could not ignore traditional folk dances. The sardana is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia. The dance was originally from the Empordà region, but started gaining popularity throughout Catalonia during the 20th century.

7. 7. TYPICAL INSTRUMENTS Music for the sardana is played by a cobla, a band consisting of 10 wind instruments, double bass and a tamborí (very small drum) played by 11 musicians. The cobla has five woodwind instruments: the flabiol which is a small fipple flute, and the tenora and tible (two of each) which belong to the oboe family. These and the tamborí are typical Catalan instruments. The brass instruments include: two trumpets, two fiscorns (a type of saxhorn created by Adolph Sax during the 19th century), and a trombone (usually a valve trombone). The double bass was traditionally a three- stringed one, but now the part is usually written for and played on the modern (four-stringed) instrument.

8. 8. MADRID Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 millionand the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be around 6.5 million. It is the third- largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after London and Paris. Regional Customs Male costumes consist of a vest with a carnation on its lapel, tight dark trousers, a black and white cap, shiny ankle boots and a white scarf around the neck. Females cover their hair with a white scarf and a carnation and they dress either a tight white blouse or polka dotted skirt or the traditional ankle-length polka dotted dress with a Manila shawl over it.

9. 9. MADRILENIAN DANCE Chotis The name derives from German Schottisch (Scottish) and originated in Central Europe (Bohemia) as a typical folk-dance. Chotis reached Madrid in 1850, being danced for the first time at the Royal Palace on the 3rd of November of that same year, under the denomination of German Polka. From then on, its popularity spread and Chotis became the most genuine dance in the Madrilenian area, to the point that it represents their festive spirit. It is fairly easy to dance Chotis. It is a partnered dance in which the couples are facing each other. The woman dances around the man while she makes him turn around his own central axis. The man holds the woman with one hand and keeps the other inside his vest pocket. His feet are kept together while he spins on his shoe tips while the woman dances around him. At a certain music beat, they both move three steps backwards and three steps forward followed by more turning and spinning. TYPICAL INSTRUMENTS It is usually performed by a typical Madrilenian instrument, the barrel organ. This portable instrument is a 19th century English invention. To perform its music it is necessary to turn a crank which moves a

10. 10. cylinder in which different pins and staples play the keyboards inside a wooden box. ARAGÓN Aragon is an autonomous community of Spain, resulting from the historical kingdom of the same name. It is located in northern Spain, and is bordered to the north by France, on the west by the autonomous communities of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, La Rioja, Navarra and on the east by Catalonia and Valencia. Aragon is divided into three provinces: Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza. Regional Customs In Aragón the typical costume is known as Baturro or Baturra´s costume. Is the costume that used the Jota dancers. For men: Men should wear a knee length black shorts along with a white shirt with a vest. The belt (usually red) should be placed at the waist, over shirt and pants. In the head they wear a handkerchief with black or red boxes. On the feet, they dress soled espadrilles or sandals. For women: The Aragon costume for women consists of old underwear, under a long skirt with flower print. A white shirt or blouse and above it, a shawl or scarf usually dark colored. The legs are covered with white stockings and shoes, sandals or espadrilles.

11. 11. ARAGONESE DANCE Jota Aragonese Jota is the most outstanding manifestation of Aragonese folklore as well as constituting a genre in itself which is present in most Spanish communities. The way it is performed nowadays derives from late 18th and early 19th century customs. It is carried out by dancers, singers and a small music band or rondalla consisting mainly of guitars, lutes and bandurrias (lute-type instruments). TYPICAL INSTRUMENTS The rondalla is mainly composed of stringed instruments such as the guitar, the lute and the bandurria although lately similar guitar-like instruments (guitarro, guitarrico, requinto) are being recovered and played together with castanets and tambourines. In an ordinary rondalla the guitar is the low note that is played with a strumming technique. The highed-pitched bandurria is in charge of the instrumental accompaniment whereas the lute introduces the counterpoint.

12. 12. ANDALUCÍA Flamenco is a genre of Spanish music, song, and dance from Andalusia, in southern Spain, that includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance) and palmas (handclaps). In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world. UNESCO declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

13. 13. Andalusia is in the South of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville. Its capital is the city of Seville. Court of the Lions La Alhambra Córdoba Mosque Seville Giralda

14. 14. Flamenco occurs in four settings: The juerga that can include dancing, singing, palmas (hand clapping). The cantaores (singers) are the heart and soul of the performance. Camarón de la Isla was one of the most famous cantaores.

15. 15. There are also tablaos, establishments that may have their own company of performers for each show. Many internationally renowned artists started their careers in tablaos flamencos.

16. 16. The professional concert. A dance concert usually includes two or three guitars, one or more singers and one or more dancers. One of the singers may play the cajon, a wooden box drum played with the hands and palmeros (handclaps). The so-called Nuevo Flamenco or "new flamenco", popularized by artists such as Camarón de la Isla, may include flutes or saxophones, a piano or other keyboard, even the bass guitar and the electric guitar.

17. 17. Finally, the theatrical presentation of flamenco is now an extended and sophisticated performance in its own right, comparable to a ballet, by such ensembles the famous Sara Baras Ballet Flamenco Company. Sara Baras and Joaquín Cortés are internationally famous flamenco dancers and regularly tours the world.

18. 18. GALICIA Muiñeira is a traditional dance and musical genre typical to Galicia, north- western in Spain. Muiñeira "is the Galician word for the English word "miller". This traditional "Miller´s Dance" is called this way because it was danced by country people while they were waiting in the mills to grind the grain into flour. "A Muiñeira" is a very rythmic, fast, bright and colourful dance. It is usually danced in Galician festivals, where there is a traditional enviroment and many popular customs from old times are revived. It's danced in a group formed by mixed pairs.

19. 19. Galicia is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. It comprises the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra. Their music is classified as part of the body of Celtic music. Santiaqo de Compostela cathedral. Hércules Tower

20. 20. "A Muiñeira" is danced to the time of 6/8. It has two or more parts and these parts have 8 times each. It consists of two or three parts: one to execute puntos and the other to execute voltas, which always have 16 times. The volta can be executed in a ring or in a diagonal. Dancers often form a circle. Jumps are incorporated, synchronized with percussion accompaniment. The position of the arms is very characteristic because they move from one side of the body to the other according to the rhythm of the music.

21. 21. TYPICAL INSTRUMENTS The instruments that are played to accompany this dance are: Galician bagpipe Gaiteiros, or bagpipe players. Gaita is the most representative Galician musical instrument. Carlos Nuñez is one of the most famous bagpipers in Spain.

22. 22. Bass drum Tambourine Shell In the different areas of the region, this dance can be accompanied by other typical instruments from each place; or even, sometimes these dances are only accompanied by songs sang by a group of female singers called "cantareiras".

23. 23. Regional Customs

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Published on 1. OUR SCHOOL: SAN JUAN BAUTISTA - LA SALLE SPANISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCES Spain's traditional music is essentially a multi-faceted mosaic of the many cultures of Spain's long and colorful history. For this reason, the traditional music and dance vary as you travel from region to region.

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The articles and videos this week were fascinating! I had a very rudimentary understanding of what and where the Flamenco dance originated from and that due in part to seeing it portrayed in American movies.  The costuming and dress in the region of Alba is very ornate and I thought it was very interesting to read how the woman of Carbajeles were solicited to embroider designs for a big Spanish designer. It’s always very cool to see how a culture activity like embroidery can be incorporated into the mainstream market in an inclusive and respectable manner.

I also found the celebration of St. Agatha to be an amazing celebration of womanhood and diversity. The festival seems to be very inclusive in nature with people sharing food and wine and lots of music. The video on Flamenco as a cross cultural art form was the most interesting part of the week’s readings. The TedEd video was beautifully shot and I enjoyed how it followed a day in the life of a guitarist as well as touched on some of the cultural importance of the art form, Flamenco. The one section where the older woman is instructing the dancer and the guitarist as to the importance of Flamenco was very fascinating. I enjoyed how she described Flamenco as a form of music that has no end and how you never stop learning the Flamenco.

I found this video online of Flamenco being expressed in music and dance. The rhythm and music is so beautiful and the concentration and dedication to the dance by the woman dancer is remarkable.

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Right away what struck me about this was the way I would have guessed that was somewhere in Northern European countries. This was because of the kind of garment they were wearing, and the bagpipes in their music. It made me realize how strong I correlate certain dress and bagpipes to certain countries! I have never learned that bagpipes have a strong presence in Spanish culture. Something that I noticed is that the dancing and music here seems like it traces back to long long ago. I would love to know what, if any, other regions of Spain include bagpipes in their traditional music. The dances seem very traditional, and the intricacies of their clothing is very impressive!
It was interesting to look at and see the contrast between the typical dances in Zamora versus the video on Flamenco that we watched. From looking at both kinds, it made me realize how critical of a role dance and music has in so many other countries and cultures. That's something that I think would be really cool if America had stronger ties to cultural dances and music that brought people together. Most of these things in America seem coopted from other cultures or countries.
https://ourpastimes.com/spanish-music-traditional-instruments-12497706.html
I learned on this link that much of Spanish traditional music originated from people bringing over Greek music to Spain. Through that, each Spanish region developed their own unique sounds.

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I can honestly say that the traditional dances in Zamora are different from anything I have seen before. I’m not sure if this is just my ears, but the sound of the music sometimes reminded me slightly of readings of the Quran, but obviously in a different language. I know that there is Arabian influence in Spain’s history, so I thought there might actually be something to this. I loved the intricate and authentic outfits used in the dances. When they performed the dances outside and you could see all the beautiful old architecture around them, it really felt like I was in another time. Watching the dances made me wonder about who these people are (do they volunteer to perform, are they chosen, encouraged by family…?), and how they learn the traditional dance. I also thought it was interesting that the men would hit the women’s skirts up at times. It seemed like some of the men did this with more intensity than others, so I was curious if this had significance to the dance or if maybe it just meant the couple knew each other more closely?

I also loved the passion and emotion involved in Flamenco. I found this website with video tutorials on how to play Flamenco music on the guitar, and it is very helpful for demonstrating some of the different techniques and styles that are involved.

https://spanishguitarschool.com

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One of the things I found fascinating from the first article was the fact that the bagpipes are one of the instruments used during festival activities. I wasn’t too surprised by the flute, tambourines and drums being used but I thought bagpipes were only ever used by the Scottish. I wonder if they made their own version or heard Scottish people use them and adopted them? Also, in a couple of the dancing videos, I noticed that a few of the male dancers would sometimes flip the long skirts of the female dancers. Seems like an odd thing for the dancers to do, but maybe there’s some reason behind it? I also liked how colorful the dancer’s outfits were (even if the men do sort of look like your typical pirates haha). I found the dance in the second video involving just the men hitting sticks quite interesting too. Most were men and women dancing but that one was quite fun to watch as well. In the videos, I was also impressed by how many people showed up. In my mind, that just confirms that this type of display of local dancing is a very important part of the culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN3L-uf9MAM

I found this short video on a dance in Zamora from 13 years ago. It wasn't like the dances in the other video, but I though it was still pretty fun to watch.

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I find it very interesting how close the regions are in Zamora yet the regions or “camarcas” have their own subtle differences. It really makes me feel how big the world truly is. There are so many cultures with their own unique styles of music and art that it seems so fascinating to discover something that has been a part of that culture for so long. I also think of how we have our own music and customs that we idolize and are passionate about. It made me think of things in my culture that I find to have an impactful role. I really enjoyed the video on Flamenco as Juan is really passionate about music and learning. This is a good example of how music has affected a life and I thought of what music had the same effect for me. I found that Juan holds a deeper meaning to Flamenco as he has studied it and grew up listening to it. It is the same for the festivities, where the people who grew up in this environment have a more sentimental attachment to them. Because with all honesty I cannot relate to how beautiful or how fun these events and music are as I have not experienced them. I can only relate from the events and festivities that I have experienced from my own culture. But I believe that we all share a common experience in that we all have a culture to which we have been passionate about.

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I was a bit taken back when seeing the traditional dress wear of Zamora as it seemed more 'European' (like Dutch dress wear) than I would have imagined, and I would have to attribute this to stereotyping flamenco as THE dance of Spain (which as we now learned is not the case). It was also interesting to see that other than the typical acoustic instruments (i.e. guitar) there is also a form of Spanish bagpipes which I thought was an 'exclusive' instrument of Ireland but it was nice to see the instrument in a different cultural context. When I was going through the videos, I couldn't help but make some comparison of Zamoran music/dances to similar sounds I have heard from Mexico and I found one link that compared the jota to the jarana of Yucatan, so it was fun to see the connection of Spain to Europe (as previously mentioned through the dress wear) but also to Spain and outside of Europe (in this case Mexico) through the traditions they incorporated into Latin American countries in the Conquista.

https://www.britannica.com/art/jota (a link to the Encyclopedia Britannica entry for "Jota")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zXRjoZytHU (a Jota, Castilian dance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwnH--Y0cU (a Jarana, Yucateco MX dance)

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I was really surprised about the colonial style dances I saw in the videos posted. Spain is a very old country with traditions that are incredibly old. I was surprised by my research that Spain was the wealthiest country in Europe in the 16th century. I can see this reflected in the grace and sophistication of the dances and music of the Zamora region. I also absolutely loved the embroidery in the dresses Carbajales de Alba region. I also was surprised at the use of bagpipes. I'm not sure why. but I tend to think of Ireland and other European countries, but of course, Spain is one of the most significant European countries based on my collection of new knowledge from this capstone.

I also really enjoyed the video on Flamenco. The passion, time, and dedication that goes into mastering the music and dance of the Flamenco is inspiring and reminds me that great things, passionate things, take time and sometimes a long time... as I feel with my educational journey.

https://www.whatsalamanca.com/music-spain.html
This link discussed more about the use of bagpipes and tambourines usually found in the traditional music of Northern Spain, versus the classical guitar and most widely understood Spanish music from Souther Spain.