The group was told to meet in the hotel lobby at 8:00 pm for a “surprise”. No matter how many times the group pestered the chaperone, Heidi, to reveal the secret destination, she kept it unknown. The group was ushered to walk uphill for twenty minutes on the narrow, cobblestone streets. Finally, Heidi excitedly stopped at a building on the side of the street and lead us in. As we walked in we saw the room to be a cave with chairs lined up on each side of the wall.
We all took a seat, but five empty chairs remained. Suddenly, three flamenco dancers and two musicians entered the cave and filled the remaining seats. The guitarist began to play upbeat music and the performers started to clap loudly to the beat. The first flamenco dancer arose. She pivoted, kicked, spun, and tapped her feet rapidly to the music. It seemed as though she never lost energy as her feet clicked faster and faster and faster. Her facial expressions were full of passion and character. The singer of the group shouted out words of affirmation to the dancer. “Guapa!” she shouted. “Asi se baile!” “Jale!” The encouragement was called out throughout the entire performance. The flamenco dancer struck her final pose and the crowd of people within the cave cheered wildly. The dancer smiled and took her seat.
The night went on with dance performed by two other ladies, a man, and an older woman who used castanets, a unique instrument held in each hand that are small, round, hollow, and snap together to make a rich, snapping sound. When the performers finished, our group yearned to see more. The passion of the dancers was contagious. The dance was incredible and the night was unforgettable. The hard work and artistic expression of the flamenco dancers is worth seeing and remembering. It was beautiful to see their passion, boldness to display their art, and unity within the group.
Summer Lecas is a student at Liberty University and an ISA Featured Blogger. She studied abroad abroad with ISA in Málaga, Spain.
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Loved reading about your time in Malaga!