Flamenco is built on emotion. Sometimes it is light hearted or naughty but most times it is dark, full of sorrow and anguish. Like the Blues, Flamenco fulfills the need of a people to express their travails, commiserate, and acknowledge a shared past. Flamenco culture has a long and interesting history in southern Spain..
In 2007 a local flamenco instructor met with Susan, suggesting that she write a children’s book about flamenco, re-awakening Susan’s fascination with the gypsy lifestyle. An avid reader, Susan read everything she could find on the Spanish gypsies, flamenco, Andalusian culture, and gypsy folklore. What started as a picture book project quickly grew into a much broader concept; she soon realized that a road trip was in order. So, in the fall of 2007, she and her daughter flew to Seville to experience the roots of flamenco through the exploration of the natural world of Andalusia that dictated how the gypsies lived, the path of their migration, and the art movements that continue to promote flamenco today.
Browse through my portfolio and the prints section to learn more about my trip and flamenco.
I have used hand-colored images enhance my travelogue. The history of flamenco is centuries long; I have tried to hit the highlights and entice people to continue to explore the roots of flamenco through the resources provided or taking a road trip of their own. Exploring the Roots of Flamenco provides an excellent introduction to the history of flamenco, to Andalucía, and the people and culture that played a vital role in flamenco’s origins.
The book is currently available on Amazon in paperback and e-book. The Inside the Book feature shows the first six chapters. The History of Flamenco Portfolio has a selection of images, many of which have insight into the history. There are 12 images in the Print section that also share information.
