Casares brings flamenco to the streets

Flamenco dancers from Casares Local Dance School will take to the streets this week as the town continues its annual celebrations for International Flamenco Day.

Two performances are scheduled for Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13, giving residents and visitors the chance to enjoy traditional music and dance in public squares.

Spontaneous flamenco takes over the streets

The first takes place on Thursday at 5.30pm in Plaza Marcelino Camacho, in Casares Pueblo. The following afternoon, also at 5.30pm, pupils and teachers will perform in Plaza de la Paz in Secadero.

The events are being organised by Casares Town Hall and will feature students and teaching staff from the municipal dance school. The performances will take the form of flash mobs, bringing flamenco into everyday public spaces rather than a conventional theatre setting.

International flamenco day

They form part of the build-up to International Flamenco Day on November 16. The date commemorates UNESCO’s recognition of flamenco as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. UNESCO’s recognition of flamenco helped bring international attention to the traditional Andalusian art form.

Casares has marked the occasion with similar street performances in previous years. In 2021, the dance school staged flash mobs in the village’s three population centres, combining flamenco with the traditional Fandango Casareño. The format was repeated in 2022 and 2023, when performances were again planned for Casares Pueblo, Casares Costa and Secadero. Previous International Flamenco Day celebrations in Casares provide a record of the earlier performances.

Can you do the fandango?

The local fandango has a particular place in Casares’ cultural history. The municipality has worked to preserve the traditional dance and pass its steps on to younger generations through the municipal school. Casares’ efforts to preserve the Fandango Casareño offer a glimpse into this local tradition.

This week’s events offer an opportunity to see that work in action, with dancers of different ages sharing their skills in the heart of the community.

Casares also hosts the annual Festival Flamenco Rosa Fina, another celebration of the town’s strong flamenco connections.

Both performances are scheduled to begin at 5.30pm. The Friday event in Secadero will bring this year’s programme of street performances to a close ahead of the international celebration on Monday, November 16.