To trace the origins of flamenco one has to follow the winding roads of the migrating peoples: Greek, Romans, Arabs, Jews and Romani – who in the course of many centuries from Antiquity to the Middle Ages – came to and settled in the south of Spain, and who let their music influence the native Andalusian.

The early forms of flamenco can be attributed to the poor strata of the Andalusian population that in the Middle Ages developed this musical tradition. The hoarse and crude singing was accompanied by handclapping and by the dance which was improvised.

This ancient flamenco was not – as today – a performing art with highly skilled musicians and dancers. The original flamenco was informal: people gathered to make music, to dance and to express themselves.

The spirit of flamenco is proud and uncompromising – a homage paid to all conditions of life. Even the darkest moments of sorrow – as expressed in the cante jondo – come to an end and most songs and dances finally burst out into joy.

The authenticity of feeling, the freedom of personal interpretation within a specific musical pattern make flamenco a living form of art. Here the essence is the personal contribution of the performer.