Revulgo2

A UNESCO intergovernmental committee has declared Flamenco an intangible heritage including it in the Urgent Safeguarding List and the Representative List.
Two other Spanish customs have also been included, the Sibilia singing from Mallorca and the Catalan “Castells” (human towers).

bardo1

Flamenco is fine and all, but why does it need "Urgent Safeguarding"? Is it being banned? suppressed?

How does one "safeguard" an art form anyway?
Gov't funds/performance spaces/tax breaks for artists to dance and sing?

I'm not sure how pure a gov't sponsored art is anyway these days.

kerouac

And also French gastronomy became intangible heritage today; I don't know if it is being safeguarded though.

Dukey1

Does the flamenco thing INCLUDE one of those polka dot costumes?

ira

Some people have too much time on their hands.

kimhe

In Japan alone there are over 600 flamenco schools that offer courses to more than 60 000 students, so I don't think it need much of safeguarding. But the flamenco community surely appreciate the attention. Here's a taste of some of the best flamenco on the current scene.

Rocío Molina (dance): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYaY4zZgTas
Israél Galván (dance):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfmCd...eature=related
Miguel Poveda (song):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDciN...eature=related
Paco de Lucía (guitar):
http://flamenko.es/component/k2/item...enal-2010.html
Dorantes (piano): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjtXiPl8Rk

kimhe

... and today the long awaited premiere of Carlos Saura "Flamenco, Flamenco" in Spanish cinemas.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg2-8Ipvz4
and teaser...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Ql-...eature=related

Christina

I don't understand these UNESCO things, either, I read about the French lunch being a UNESCO site or something and never knew they had customs or things with that designation. I don't think they are safeguarding French lunches enough.

ribeirasacra

I hear English Morris Dancing is endangered, maybe that will be next?