When thinking about the culture of Spain, one of the first things that often comes to mind is the flamenco. Flamenco is a traditional Spanish musical genre combining Cante (song), Baile (dance) and Guitarra (the guitar). Originating from the province of Andalusia, flamenco is a passionate art form which tells a story of the Spanish culture and heritage.

The flamenco can tell all imaginable stories from tragedy to comedy, and love to politics using song, dance and music to bring the story alive. There is little evidence left of the development history of this art form, although it is believed to have begun in the lower levels of Andalusian society a few hundred years ago. This is one of several reasons that there is a distinct lack of historical evidence of the origins of this musical genre, as it was not recognised amongst the more prestigious people of this time. Many of the classes were illiterate, so the music and songs were passed on orally, eliminating any written history from being recorded. Many of the groups involved in the beginning of the flamenco culture were later persecuted, including the gypsies, the Jews and the Moors, taking any existing evidence with them at the time.

Flamenco music made a comeback in the late eighteenth century in a time often referred to as the Golden Age of Flamenco. Singing and dancing performances started growing in popularity in the cities of Seville and Malaga and quickly spread throughout the province of Andalusia. As the movement grew, so did the different styles of flamenco; as local dance movements and traditions influenced the original art form.

Many people mistakenly think of flamenco as being a form of dance, although it originally started as a form of singing to tell a story. Dance was later added to express the songs with movement to the music. The entire art form is a complex blend of music, dance and song and to the untrained eye may look wild and ardent. The sophisticated footwork and complex rhythms of music combine together to make flamenco the passionate art form that it is today.