Don’t miss the chance to experience a Flamenco show coming to Helsinki on September 7th and October 7th!
Do not worry if you have ever seen a Flamenco show or you don’t know anything about it! We call it Flamenco: a unique Spanish Show by FEVER have you cover!
My First Time at a Flamenco show
I attended the show on Saturday, and it was actually my first time watching a Flamenco performance—I LOVED IT! I won’t deny that the closest I’d come to Flamenco before was seeing Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie Mask of Zorro, though that dance is only inspired by Flamenco.
Show Highlights:
- Location: Aleksanterin Teatteri at Bulevardi 23-27, Helsinki,
- One of Helsinki’s most popular venues, accommodating about 500 people for plays, operas, ballet, and concerts.
- You can buy drinks before the show, drinks are not allow to take to the theater hall.
- Seating is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis within each zone, and there are no numbered seats. Arrive early to secure the best spot!
- Duration: Approximately 1 hour. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. Latecomers cannot be accommodated.
- Ticket Zones:
- Zone D (second balcony): €19.00
- Zone C (first balcony): €26.00
- Zone B: €34.00
- Zone A (wheelchair): €42.00
- Zone A: €42.00
Do You Need to Know Anything About Flamenco to Enjoy This Show?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! But if you’re curious, at the end of the post I’ve included a brief guide to help you understand the basics elements of Flamenco.
Feel The Passion and Energy of “We call it Flamenco”
I dare to say this was absolutely a show like no other—all the way from Spain! Yesterday, after attending the concert—which I absolutely loved—I woke up with a sudden urge to dive deeper into Flamenco. I got so into researching while writing this blog that I ended up splitting my experience into all the different ‘parts’ of Flamenco.
El Baile (Dancing)
As soon as it begins, you’ll be amazed by the dancers, their bright costumes, and the powerful energy on stage. Montse, the Flamenco dancer, will captivate you with her intense gaze and the way she moves her feet, hitting the wooden floor with incredible rhythm. Oh gosh, the way she moved her legs and struck the wooden floor with her ‘zapateado’ WAS AMAZING! And the male dancer made us laugh after he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand following an intense dance.
How do I know the dancer’s name, you may ask? At the end of the show, I wanted to take a picture of the empty theater when the Flamenco team came out to take a picture as well after their performance in Helsinki. I took advantage of speaking the same language and, without hesitation, asked if I could take a picture with them! We also chatted for a few minutes about how amazing their dancing was!
El Toque (guitar playing) y Cante (Singing)
You’ll witness the solo guitarist’s skill, the singer’s deep emotion, and the dancers’ expressive movements. The connection between the dancer, singer, and guitarist is strong, and you’ll feel how the audience becomes part of this shared experience. Just sit back and let the magic of Flamenco flow!
El Duende (Emotional Depth), Compás (rythmn) and Palmas (Clapping)
Trust me, you will feel and see the intense emotional depth—known as duende—that is an essential part of Flamenco. The performers bring their whole spirit to the stage, creating the Flamenco atmosphere. At the end of each performance, the audience did respond with enthusiastic clapping and we heard people including myself shouting “¡Olé!” and “¡Bravo!”
It was such an enthusiastic show that people even clapped in between the ‘palos’ because we didn’t realize the dancers hadn’t finished yet! But we quickly fell silent, and when they were done, we clapped even harder.
Palos (Style)
You don’t need to understand Spanish to sense the different moods and styles in the music throughout the show. Each piece has its own character, from serious and intense to happy and light.
Pay attention to the custmom
For Women:
- Bata de Cola: The traditional Flamenco dress with a long, flowing skirt and a train (cola) adorned with ruffles or lace and in bright colors. In our show, there were at least four costume changes.
- Flamenco Shoes: High-heeled shoes with a solid base, perfect for intricate footwork and rhythm. They often have a hard sole to create the distinctive Flamenco sounds known as zapateado!
- Mantón (Flamenco Shawl): A large, embroidered shawl worn over the shoulders, which can be used for dramatic effect in dances.
- Accessories: Typically includes flowers or combs (peinetas) in the hair, as well as large, dangling earrings. This time was not flamenco fan (abanico)
For Men:
- Traje de Flamenco: A traditional suit consisting of a fitted jacket (chaqueta), trousers (pantalones), and a waistcoat (chaleco). The suit is often dark in color, but in our show, there was also a white one.
- Flamenco Shoes: Similar to women’s shoes, they have a sturdy base and a hard sole for rhythm.
- Accessories: Men may wear a cravat or tie, and sometimes a vest or sash, depending on the formality of the performance.
You see now? All this in just over an hour—we didn’t want it to end! The Flamenco team was so dedicated that the audience enjoyed it immensely. You don’t need to be a Flamenco expert; when people clap with excitement, you know it was a fantastic show! And this was one of them!
Take a look at the photos to see the venue and the dancers in action!
Basics of Flamenco: A Quick Guide
Origins: Andalusia, Spain; influenced by Romani, Moorish, and Jewish cultures.
Key Elements:
-
- Baile (dancing): Dynamic, expressive dance Dancers use intricate footwork, hand movements, and body language to convey the emotions of the music..
- Toque (guitar playing): Skillful guitar playing that drives the rhythm.
- Cante (singing): Soulful, passionate singing.
- Duende (Emotional Depth): describe the emotional intensity and spiritual force that a performer brings to the audience.
- Costumes: Traditional Flamenco costumes are colorful and dramatic. Women typically wear long, flowing dresses with ruffles, known as bata de cola, while men often wear fitted pants, vests, and boots. The costumes add to the visual impact of the performance.
- Styles (Palos): Flamenco is divided into various styles known as palos Includes various forms like Soleá (serious) and Alegrías (joyful), and Bulerías (fast-paced and playful).
- Compás: The essential rhythm that guides each performance.
- Palmas (clapping): is a crucial component that adds rhythm and support to the performance.
CONFESSION
The more FEVER events I attend, the more addicted I become to their offerings! They are absolutely worth experiencing, and I’m thrilled to see that they have more options coming to Helsinki as winter approaches. Cultural activities are a fantastic way to spend time and motivate you to get out of the house!
If you’re curious about one of their standout experiences, be sure to check out my review of the Candlelight series.
