I am heading to Madrid with 6 adults and 3 children (all 3 year old girls). We think the little girls would love to see some Flamenco dancing. I know most of the shows start late (10:00 or midnight) which will be to late to keep the girls up. Does anyone know of an earlier show or even a Bodega/restaurant that has impromptu dancing? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you!

Please note that in Spain a bodega is a winery.

I am not hopeful in Madrid...maybe in the South: Sevilla, etc.? -- only because there might be something earlier geared to tourists. I'm not sure 3-year old girls would last through an entire show at any hour -- yes, there are costumes, guitar music, tapping heels...but it's often very intense with no obvious story line to appeal to children. I suspect after one or two numbers they would be asking, "can we go now, mommy?" If you are headed south, they would get a much greater kick out of the costumed (11 AM) show at the Spanish Riding School in Jerez.

We went to a flamenco show in Madrid, and not only did it start late, it was the smokiest room I've ever been in in my life! Not the place for three-year olds.

we saw a terrific show at cardamomo starting at 9 PM.
Very good location and a pleasant small room.

http://www.cardamomo.es/

Here are some clips from two of the best tablaos in Madrid.

Cardamomo (9pm and 8pm on Saturdays):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJXN...eature=related

Casa Patas (9pm in the weekends):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1etyqa6uDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZH7TdS6stQ

If this is what you are looking for, then you find good information on this site:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=397

kimhe.. you are such an expert. anything fabulous this weekend, the 8, 9 or 10th in Madrid? I love reading your suggestions.http://www.fodors.com/community/images/PostMessage.png

Thanks, Lin!

The exceptional cantaor José Mercé is singing in Jardines de Sabatini on the 10th. Quite spectacular outdoor staging in the gardens of the Royal Palace (saw Sara Baras here last August). The concert is part of the Veranos de la Villa Festival. http://veranosdelavilla.esmadrid.com...plina/flamenco

Highly recommended! I saw Mercé in Nerja in 2004, and that night stands as one of my top three flamenco experiences ever.

Tickets:
http://www.entradas.com/entradas/pro...5115&idprov=28

One more thing. Gema Caballero sings in Casa Patas from the 9th to the 14th. She's singing together with La Tremendita in Rocío Molinas latest work. Here's a clip of always mindblowing and surprising Molina, and Caballero comes in with her beautiful voice after 2.50:
http://www.deflamenco.com/videos/ver...igo=FLA%7C3276

Casa Patas, tickets: http://www.casapatas.com/actuaciones.asp

I think I misunderstood you to just ask for the days 8th to 10th. If you are in Madrid in the weekend, you might want to condider the up and coming bailaora Selene Muñoz. Madrid premiere of her latest work in Teatro Pradillo from August 4 to 7 and 11 to 14:
http://teatropradillo.com/wp/?p=163
Here you get a glimpse of her grace and skills: http://vimeo.com/10049034

I would play several of the YouTube performances cited here for the little girls and watch their reaction.

I love flamenco. Many people love the music and the dancing, but people often find the singing, the cante, which is my favorite part to be pretty hard to take. Like Chinese opera.

If the girls (and perhaps your other friends) are put off by the cante, and you should play it very loud, since it will be very loud at the venue, maybe one group should go to the show and the other babysit. It will come at the end of what is likely to be a long and tiring day, and it may be too much.

Another possibility would be for one group to go to an early show while the other childsits, then swap.

I do not know whether I would have been so excited to go to flamenco if I had been watching clips on YouTube to decide. But the experience of the live performance I saw for the firt time at Casa Patas was exhilirating for me and for everyone I went with.

Then again I am not three years old.

He-he, Nikki is absolutely right, video clips don't do live flamenco much justice.