Dancing in Spain

A Dance in Danger of Extinction. The history of Zambra. Forbidden for centuries, Zambra is a Spanish dance and music tradition of Moorish, Sephardi and Gypsy origins that has survived against all odds for more than 500 years to become a cultural phenomenon during the first half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, Zambra  (also known as Zambra Mora) is now an art in danger of extinction. This dance style would have originally been seen at gypsy weddings. It has a Moorish style and can be considered similar to belly dancing. It was established, like other dance styles like this, in Andalusia, which is similar to a state, in Spain.  What is Zambra? They dance barefoot and playing finger cimbalini, with the blouse knotted under the bust and the wide skirt fixed at the hip with wide folds that allow it to float in the air. The name "Zambra" means party. The Zambra ceremony was absorbed, learned and transformed by the new Sacromonte tribes, who at some point began to show it and ke...

Where it all began. Just like last time, this dance style originated in/ around Spain. It is different based on the source you may read but it is said to have began in 1780. Of course, in that time the dance was very different but now many people even get it confused with Flamenco. It adapted into marching music for Spanish infantry troops because of the beat and pace of the music. "In the nineteenth century, paso doble songs also served as music for Spanish bullfights during the paseo, or entrance into the ring." (Masterclass)  America's perception. The way that our culture looks at this dance form is much different than how it is/was viewed in Spain. Spanish culture would compare this dance style to bull fighting considering that is what it originally started as. "Paso Doble steps represent a bullfight, with the male partner—the matador—in the lead, and the female partner following." (Masterclass)  Now days the reason many people in America know what Paso Dobl...