The A to Z's of Flamenco Dance: "C" is for Compás

Flamenco, Compás (comb-PAS) is everything.  Compás means rhythm.  The rhythm you listen to, the rhythm a singer sings to, the rhythm a guitarist plays to, the rhythm a dancer dances to and the rhythm a palmero/a (the person who does the hand-clapping) or cajonero/a (person who plays the box drum) claps or bangs out.  Compás is THE most important thing in Flamenco.  Without compás there is no Flamenco.  Regardless of the dancer’s technique or skill level, if the dancer is not dancing to Flamenco rhythms, and staying within the rhythm structure, it just is not Flamenco. (…continued)

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