Viewed through the flamenco family tree, tangos originated mainly from the Romani music branch. This accounts for the sharp, accented movements, the strident sound, and the performance's focus on rhythm rather than melodic quality. The song or dance usually begins with clapping in the above-mentioned rhythm and continues throughout the entire performance, accentuating moments of climax and relaxation.
From 26 to 29 August, the annual summer camp organised by the flamenco dance studio DUENDE took place in Zvejniekciems, with an opportunity for all studio dancers to gather together and learn from guest teachers - flamenco instructors from Spain. I took the opportunity to attend two days of compas classes with percussionist Andrej Vujicic, as well as tangos and alegrias dance technique with flamenco dancer Francesca Grimm.
Yesterday in the hall of the independent Riga theatre "Skatuve", the annual end-of-year concert of the flamenco dance club Duende took place. Various flamenco styles were danced on stage - tangos, farrukas, sevillanas, alegrias, tanguillo, bulerias. The performances were made more splendid not only by the variety of brightly coloured costumes, good dance technique, and the dancers' emotional engagement, but also by various dance accessories - castanets, fans, hats.
