Are flamenco shows better in Granada or Seville? My hotel in Granada is recommending this show -

www.cuevaslostarantos.com

Thanks

I never went to one in Granada, but would highly recommend Los Gallos in Seville. Also, search "Spain" and then put "flamenco" in the box and you should get lots of information.

Venue is not nearly as important as performer, and the place in Granada that regularly has the best dance groups and musicians is la Cueva de la Rocío. If Repompa or her daughter Raquel (sometimes called La Repompilla) are performing, then you are in for a treat. Repompa's other daughter Amparo is a very good singer. They have been at that cueva on and off for a few years now (between tours) and are the best as far as I am concerned.

There is Flamenco, the real thing, and there is Flamenco, the mellower prettied-up touristy show.

Just like there is the real Jazz and the smooth-Jazz pop-Jazz kind of music.

Be sure you know which you are after, because the real Flamenco is not everybody's cup of tea.

If a hotel recommends a show, it is probably the mellow pretty pop-Flamenco kind - needn't be bad or anything, just not the real thing.

For the real thing, look to http://www.flamenco-world.com/flamenco.htm where you have links to artist's websites and to events (click on Festivals), also look at www.flamencofestival.info.

Has anyone been to the flamenco show at El Arsenal in Seville? Hotel Amadeus is recommending it.

We liked Los Gallos - get there early since the seating is first come/first serve and some seats have a somewhat obstructed view.

yeah, like Wally said... ;-) The other distinction is the teatro presentation versus the tablao - the latter being more intimate, less produced, but no less passionate - usually more so. And watch that first step! I returned from Andalucia 6 years ago with a dozen flamenco CD's and after seeing a few shows Los Gallos being one, Casa Patas in Madrid another, and La Cava in Cadiz... my favorite and the tiniest! I've been studying flamenco guitar with a local maestro for about 6 months, and I may never get back to rock'n'roll.

We saw the show at El Arenal about two years ago (also recommended by Hotel Amadeus). I thought it was pretty much geared to tourists - a little disappointing. It was expensive - watery drinks, etc. and filled with tour groups.

I had heard that throughout Sevilla you can find better flamenco (is there such a thing as real flamenco?) in some of the small taverns. Don't know how you find them, though!

We very much enjoyed the Flamenco at Casa de la Memoria in Seville, which had been recommended by a number of people on Fodors. We liked it so much that we went back after the first night for another show. (They have different people performing each night.) The prices are reasonable, and you should get your tickets ahead of time because they sell out early.They have an early and a late show.
email:[email protected], or telephone: 954 56 06 70, or pick them up at the venue: c.ximenez de Enciso, 28

I believe El Arsenal is considered the most "authentic" flamenco show in Seville. Unfortunately it was booked and we were forced to see Los Gallos.

I know that many tourists report enjoying the show at Los Gallos, and it is highly recommended by Rick Steves and others, but we were disappointed. The women dancers were nice to look at but the singers were terrible and the staff talked and made other kinds of noise all through the show.

Fortunately we saw Noche Flamenca, from Madrid, when the company visited Seattle last fall. They put on a wonderful show of dancing, singing, and guitar playing.

Amadeus is trying to do you a favor. Trust them.

Wow! Talk about great timing. I was soon to start my own thread about flamenco shows. I will be escorting a group of 30 students (aged 15 - 18) to Barcelona (Sitges) and Valencia in March 2008. We do our best to inculcate some local flavour into our educational tours. Does anyone have suggestions for shows in these two cities?

I just talked to Repompa and she is performing regularly at La Cueva de la Rocío in Granada. This is definitely something you want to see. Her stage name is Repompa, but you might also hear "Rafaela Reyes," which is her real name. Amazing! One of flamenco's true greats.

We will go to Casa de la Memoria in Santa Cruz and Casa Carmen Arte Flamenco in Arenal when we go to Seville in early March as they came highly recommended by Spaniards.

They are also smaller , more intimate venues that are more improv ( less theatre like the bigger places) and also cheaper.

We first saw Flamenco in Santa Fe and became hooked, but have really fallen in love with it here in our white village in Andalucia.

My 6yo takes flamenco classes here with a top local dancer with some of her school mates:
http://www.soultravelers3.com/podcas...91B31E959.html

So now with her writhing about constantly in an Andalucian way to flamenco tunes, it will definitely be a family affair here.

We can't wait!!

WTnow - I'd love to hear about the Sevilla 'burbs after your trip. Hard to overcome a westerner's intial reaction to the term "barrio". ;-) I absolutely loved your blog and photo's! My wife and I have daydreamed about a similar adventure. Maybe a little less brave in our cases as the 6-year-old in our lives is grandson #1! Hey, he can come visit.

Thanks Ronin,

Glad to hear you enjoyed the blog and pics. I will definitely be blogging our Seville etc experience and will try to add some info here as well.

I love the passion for Spain here!

I would say go for it, we are having the time of our lives and living for MUCH less than we would at home.

And your 6yo would love visiting too!

So, I have raved about them, but what about seeing them dance and sing? Follow this link:
http://landofguirisvideos.ning.com/

and watch both Raquel and her mother. Raquel's is the fin de fiesta and her mother is under "la Repompa: real flamenco."

I accidentally only posted a reference image for Repompa's, so that is being remedied as we speak.

OK. Repompa's video is up and running. So now you all know what I am talking about!

Hey Claire, do you know of any flamenco in Barcelona the week of February 19?

Hey Nikki! Aside from what is always going on (Tablao de la Carmen, El cordobés, etc), there is nothing. In Madrid el Barullo and Farru are working together on "al natural" which should be really interesting, but it will not make it up here this time.