Flamenco Glossary

Baile: Flamenco dancing

Bailadoras/Bailadores: Dancers

Braceo: Arm work — movement of the arms during the flamenco dance

Cajón: A box-shaped percussion instrument

Cante: Flamenco singing

Compás: Rhythmic cycle of beats, measures and rhythms

Farruca: A form of flamenco music that is traditionally danced to only by men

Floreo: Handwork, the movement a dancer makes with their hands while dancing. In Spanish means “to flower”

Guitarra: Guitar

Jaleo: A chorus in which dancers and the singer clap. It can also be words or expressions of encouragement

Juerga: A lively and communal flamenco celebration, often involving a “jam session” or “freestyle” movements

Llamada: A call, or dance break to signal the change of a section

Marcaje: Marking step, it is particularly used when the singer is singing

Palmas: A style of handclapping used in flamenco music, an essential form of percussion to help punctuate and accentuate the song and dance

Palmas Claras: Louder, higherpitched claps, created when the fingers of the strong hand land into the open palm of the weak hand

Palmas Sordas: Softer, low pitched or muted clapping done with cupped hands, often by the singer

Percusión Corporeal: Body percussion

Pitos: Finger snapping

Redoble: Rhythmic patterns with double beats; redobles are usually used in the dance to provide dynamic accents

Taconeo: Footwork associated chiefly with the heel, involving rhythmic patterns.

Tangos: A lively dynamic dance and song form within the flamenco style

Toque: Flamenco guitar

Vueltas: Flamenco turns