May
26
2009
The Famous Flamenco of Madrid
Author: SamThe traditional dance and music of the Andalusian Gypsies of Spain is the Flamenco. The roots in this art form come from various cultures, the Moors, the Andalusians and the Gypsies and the dances and the songs have been cultivated over many centuries. In the early 1,800′s this form of expression became very popular and has since that time, become widely performed and widely viewed, many shows being done and seen in the coffee shops, the bars, and the restaurants of the five star Madrid hotels, and the cafes throughout the entire country. In the city of Madrid there is a wide variety of shows to see.
One of the most fine and most impressive flamenco shows is performed nightly at the Taberna Casa Patas. Very well known artists, the musicians and the dancers have performed here in the past, such as Chano Lobato, Remedios Amaya, and La Nina Pastori. This is a well known venue however is not known to be overrun by tourists, it is a very traditional spot. Dinner is served before the show begins and throughout the show as well. Casa Patas is famous for the tapas menu as well as their seafood and steaks, and the house speciality, the tail of a bull.
One of the most established and oldest venues for flamenco is located near the Royal Palace in the older section of Madrid. This is Cafe de Chinitas and it is set in a palace from the eighteenth Century. Many of the best, local and international flamenco stars have performed here over the years. The shows here alternate monthly, and as with the previously stated venue the food here is out of this world. And then there is the Corral de la Moreria, a venue that began in 1956 and has been known to attract many celebrities, artists and famous sportsman and ever a rock band here and their. Audience members in the pasts have included the band U2, the boxing champion Muhammad Ali, Picasso and Frank Sinatra. It is no wonder as the shows performed here are considered by some to be the absolute best in the world. These are just three of the many venues that will provide one with a night out of the traditional music, dance and cuisine when traveling through Madrid this summer.