The general term "Spanish Dance" is very broad; it constitutes one of the richest and most varied dance styles; from the multiple forms of creation and performance in Flamenco to Folklore, in its various forms, and Spanish Classical Dance.  All of them are uniquely different whilst, at the same time, they are directly interrelated.What are their origins? The diverse cultures which throughout centuries populated the Iberian Peninsula: From the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Jews and the Gypsies to the direct influence of the Mediterranean on all popular Spanish traditions. We mustn't forget the interchange from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean between Spain and America called Ida y Vuelta CIf one analyses these elements, one can realise that there is a cultural legacy that we have inherited, a world of possibilities both in music and in dance. Lately, in Spain, there has been a tendency to "modernise" traditional dance and music by incorporating Contemporary and Modern dance styles or, in music, jazz or blues, among others. All of these are far from our own origins and form of expression.  Our idea is to keep our roots and history, without being too conservative: quite the opposite. We believe that to evolve one must focus on one's search based on our own elements.This requires a serious documentation effort to enable us to move forward and innovate having firm foundations. Rather than trying to look sophisticated or pretentious, our approach is straightforward and honest, as close to the land and its people as possible. Joaquín Ruiz |
