Un poquito de flamencology 11 - Sevillanas
30 March 2025
Ambivalence
Sevillanas is thought to be derived as a type of Seguidilla, a Spanish folk music that has several local roots. Seguidilla Manchega, for example, is from La Macha in the Castilian region, while Murciana is another form of Seguidilla from Murcia in Andalusia. In this sense, Sevillanas is a type of Seguidilla that has developed and cultivated in the flamenco cradle of Seville.
The confusing fact is, Seguidilla Flamenca is not Sevillanas but actually Seguiriya… a very different palo. This indicates that Seguidilla alone has a strong influence in the formation of flamenco music.
We have an ambivalent attitude towards Sevillanas. While it can be integrated in a flamenco show, we tend to label it as folk music rather than pure flamenco. Sevillanas dance class is often organised separately from a flamenco dance class. It’s a communication tool among flamenco enthusiasts, and knowing how to dance Sevillanas is a must for flamenco dance students, but at the same time, we don’t necessarily treat it as proper flamenco…
Proliferation from restriction
Having the origin as a traditional folk music, there are always new Sevillanas created and performed in Spain, giving us a limitless musical resource to choose from. Its proliferating characteristics, however, don’t necessarily overwhelm us, as far as those songs share the same rhythm pattern of 3/4 (or 6/8) and the composition of four verses or coplas that are divided into three sections. This common feature enables us to dance any Sevillanas songs with the same steps, however different the melodies, arrangements and lyrics are. There are also several variations such as Sevillanas Boleras, Sevillanas Rocieras, and so on, but the musical structure is almost the same or similar.
It’s usually danced in pairs at ferias or fiestas. While the dancing style could vary, there are certain common ingredients, including so-called ‘Sevillanas steps’ (paseos/pasos Sevillanas), pasadas where the pairs swap their positions, and turns to conclude each verse.
What makes you a ‘good’ dancer?
On many occasions, you'd be intrigued that the most charming Sevillanas dancer could be a non-professional. It could be a guitarist or singer who doesn't usually step into the type of performance method. It could also be a local person who grew up in the culture but has never taken a proper dance class. They tend to convey some grace, earthiness, warmness and a sense of humour in how they move, which a trained dancer can't produce.
Watching Sevillanas danced by such people could sometimes be more entertaining and exhilarating than professional showcases. Sevillanas itself (and similarly Bulerías) can offer a stage for such people to shine - sometimes brighter than ‘experienced’ dancers.
Those who didn't grow up in Spain or the Sevillanas culture would still need to learn the timing of pasadas and basic steps in a class, but there is no need to ‘master’ a set of choreography accurately in order to enjoy Sevillanas, which is more generous and inclusive than other flamenco numbers - there is a more important thing than just following a taught choreography.
Dancing with a partner
Whether you are dancing on stage or in a party, the fun part of Sevillanas lies in your willingness to interact with your partner. However well-trained you are, or your partner is, it's not just two individuals facing each other practising choreographed steps, nor competing with each other. We need to 'feel' how our partner is listening to the music, interpreting the situation, and predicting our next moves. Since we're immersed in the shared soundscape and the fiesta mode, we should be exchanging our energies rather than ignoring each other as if the only thing we care about is executing the steps. It's not your solo dance - you should enjoy partnership and communication in the dance.
Dancing solo
Having said that, Sevillanas can also be performed as a lovely solo dance in a flamenco show if there is only one dancer appointed. Providing nobody in the audience volunteers to be the other half, it could be a lively solo number delivering Andalusian air. The dance could be more decorative than usual with the help of props such as castanets, shawl, or fan. Female dancers could also wear a bata de cola to add femininity and elegance.
While there is a particular difficulty in dancing with a partner, dancing a pair dance without a partner is also tricky in a different way. You need to be engaging enough on stage without someone else's presence. If you just do it as you normally do with a partner who isn’t there, then the performance might look awkward. It could test the dancer’s creativity and staging. Sevillanas is simple and complicated at the same time.
Preparing for the feria season
Even if you have already ‘mastered’ a certain style of Sevillanas, it’s not the end of mastery. You can add more creativity and originality. You might also intuitively dance differently with different partners. Although it’s often used as an introduction to flamenco dancing, Sevillanas has more potential and could provide a solid basis in order to let your artistry bloom.
As the season of feria starts soon, it’s a good chance to review and refresh your own Sevillanas. Or, if you’re still new to this genre, you can learn it from scratch. It can not only be fun but also open up a new horizon in your artistic life.
