“Give me authentic flamenco” we hear you cry. “Take me where no tourist has ever stepped before!” Dear stripper please think again. Of the numerous flamenco shows in Seville, not one is for locals. Your best shot at authenticity will be wandering around barrio Triana in the early hours of the morning, listening to haunted tales of lost love echo down the streets. Or hit up Casa Matias, on Calle Arfe, around midday on a Sunday and wait. But prepare yourself for the coldest of stares, the most piercing of looks, and if you’re lucky a few drunken claps and verses.
Real flamenco doesn’t have to be about the money. It is about the moment, the passion, the tempers, and of course the duende*
Flamenco grew from a mix of Romani and local music and dance styles, and is exclusive to the southern Spanish region of Andalusia. If you’re reading this it’s probably because you don’t fancy splashing thirty Euros on a theatre extravaganza. To begin with, good choice. Real flamenco doesn’t have to be about the money. It is about the moment, the passion, the tempers, and of course the duende*.
T for Triana is a great place to start. It’s easy, and most importantly free. The drinks are fairly priced, and there is a good mix of tourists and Spaniards. Grab yourself a Tinto de Verano, muscle your way into the viewing alley, and prepare to be mesmerized by this captivating art form. Olé!
* The little goblin that creeps into your soul from the heart of the singer and makes you weep inside.
SBT says dine on: Come having eaten.
SBT says wine on: Tinto de Verano and Carlsberg bottles (last time we checked!).
Phone: 954 33 12 03
