If you’re interested in seeing a traditional flamenco performance while in Seville but aren’t sure what this looks like or how to find a good one, this article will help you figure it all out.

Seville, as the capital of Andalucía is an excellent option for both flamenco aficionados and complete newcomers. Not only is Seville a gorgeous city with so much to offer visitors, it’s also home to some of the very best flamenco you’ll find. I had never seen a flamenco show before I moved to Andalucia and now I’m in the process of falling in love with this art form.

In this article you’ll learn about flamenco, what it is and its history and then you’ll learn where to find the best shows in Seville. 

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What is flamenco?

Flamenco is many things, not just, as you may think, a Spanish dance. It’s an integral part of Andalucían culture and heritage, it’s a language, it’s an art and it’s so much more. For this reason, in 2010, flamenco was included on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Flamenco is an art form

While it’s often thought that flamenco is a dance, it’s actually primarily about the voice. There can be dancing and guitar playing too but the voice is the focal point of any flamenco experience. 

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Flamenco is improvisation

There are 54 palos, or forms of flamenco dance, and to be able to call yourself a ‘master’ of flamenco you need to know all of them.

The palos are a jumping off point for improvisation, they are a style or form of performance, whether a dance, song or musical piece. The best artists are improvising, no two flamenco shows will ever be the same.

Flamenco is passion

^{Photo by Devour Tours}

An intimate flamenco show is really something to behold. You’ll see raw emotion on the performers’ faces – they may not be smiling because they may well be dancing (or singing) to express pain, sadness, & melancholy just as well as love and humour. 

Your job, as a member of the audience, is to share in this passion, let it transport you, and not to get distracted or to distract the artists.

El Duende – you may have heard this term bandied about if you’ve started paying attention to flamenco. There is no direct translation in English for this term. Duende is the soul of flamenco, the spirit within the performer.

Flamenco is history

No one really knows where or when flamenco originated but the cuna de flamenco (the cradle of flamenco) is certainly considered to have been somewhere along the banks of the Guadalquivir River in the triangle between Cádiz, Sevilla and Jerez during the middle ages. 

The word flamenco actually means ‘nomadic worker‘ in old Arabic. It was born as a subversive, underground means of expressing the pain and troubles of the poverty stricken working classes in Andalucía.

You can spot the various cultural influences in the performance:

Jewish & Muslim – hear the intonation of the rabbi and iman in the singing

Gypsy – Spanish gypsy culture arrived from India via Egypt and it is thought that the hand movements of flamenco dance come to us from Indian dance this way

African – the stamping of the feet evokes African traditional dance

How do you know if you’re seeing the best flamenco?

Seville is, today, considered to be one of best places in the world to see flamenco so the chances are high that any flamenco performance you see is going to be a good one but what should you look for when choosing where to book?

How to see flamenco in Seville

* This does not mean that the flamenco shows you’ll see offered to tourists that include dinner and drinks are bad, just that they are aimed at tourists, rather than local flamenco fans.

Flamenco in Seville: your options

So let’s look now at the various options for seeing flamenco in Seville and which, for me, is the best flamenco show on offer.

🔆 Seasonal note: some places will not be open during the summer months, if you’re not sure what will be open, you could call around or book a tour.

Free flamenco shows

💃🏻 These do exist. You’re most likely to catch one on the gorgeous Plaza de España as there is a group who perform there most days. As you explore the city you may be lucky and come across people performing on street corners, smaller plazas or even in some restaurants.

🍻 Flamenco bars are an excellent way to catch a show if you’re undecided about whether you want to spend a lot of money on a dedicated performance. You’ll have to buy a drink or 2 (obviously), the bars don’t necessarily have flamenco every night and they may not have dancers but the guitarists and singers will still knock your socks off.

Dedicated flamenco shows

^{Photo provided by Devour Tours}

It is easy to find daily shows in the heart of Seville throughout most of the year. The most popular neighbourhoods for flamenco venues are, Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter of Seville, El Arenal neighborhood and Triana.

Well regarded flamenco venues in Seville

Museo del Baile Flamenco (Flamenco Dance Museum)

^{Calle Manuel Rojas Marcos}

The flamenco dance museum was established by one of the biggest names in flamenco, Cristina Hoyos. Hoyos is the most decorated flamenco dancer and choreographer of all time. Here you’ll find a prestigious flamenco academy, a flamenco patio and also a museum. The patio offers an intimate audience fabulous views of the courtyard style stage from whence you’ll feel as if you’re a part of the experience. The photos of flamenco dancers above are of dancers here but because it’s not permitted to take photos, I don’t have any of my own.

My first serious flamenco experience took place here when I was invited, by Devour Tours to join their tapas and flamenco tour. The audience sits in a beautifully designed, small courtyard (patio) around the stage. What I didn’t expect was for el duende to take hold of me as fiercely as it did. The moment the music began, I was transported back in time. I felt as if I was in a private home, hundreds of years ago, watching people use music and dance to express what they weren’t allowed to say. I could feel their pain as we sat under the fierce Andaluz sun beating down on the patio and they danced and sang. The pain of the music gripped me and I wanted it to never end. I wanted to understand more.

 

Casa de la Memoria

^{Calle Cuna, 6}

Popular with both locals and tourists, the intimate Casa de la Memoria puts on a fabulous show that effortlessly blends music, singing and dance. This is one of the flamenco houses that is open all year long so it’s great if you’re visiting in the summer when some of the other patios are closed.

Peña Torres Macarena

^{Calle Torrijiano}

Located in the north of the city, outside of the casco antiguo, this is one of the locals’ favourite flamenco patios.

Note: it isn’t open in the summer and performances are only on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and you have to buy tickets on the door, there are no advance sales.

If you visit a peña flamenca you won’t necessarily find the polished, dressy performances of the tablaos – a peña is more like an association, a group who come together for their own joy of flamenco and offers events to the public.

Tablao Flamenco los Gallos

^{Plaza de Santa Cruz}

This is one of the oldest flamenco venues in Seville and it is located right in the heart of the old city in a gorgeous renovated house. Its location makes it a favourite with visitors to the city.

There are 2 shows a night every night here. Drinks are available.

Tablao el Arenal

^{Calle Rodo}

This is one of the smallest tablaos in the city. It offers 2 daily shows and it’s possible to order a meal or tapas to enjoy before the performance to really round out your experience.

Casa de la Guitarra

^{C. Mesón del Moro, 12}

The Casa de la Guitarra is first and foremost a guitar museum where you’ll find guitar related items from the last 300 years. It was founded by José Luis Postigo, a famous flamenco guitarist. There is a twice daily flamenco show for up to 60 people hosted in this small and intimate theatre.

El Patio Sevillano

^{Av. de las Razas, 20}

One of the oldest tablaos in Sevilla, this is a good option if you are looking for a show with dinner or a show with drinks. The location of this venue is a big bonus as it’s by the Triana bridge along the river.

Teatro Flamenco de Triana

^{Calle Pureza, 76}

One of the best shows in the Triana district is found at this flamenco theatre where 3 daily shows are offered to guests. The theatre holds just 100 people.

Teatro Flamenco Sevilla

^{Calle Cuna, 15}

If you prefer a dedicated theatre environment in the heart of Seville’s old city, try the Teatro Flamenco. Check the website to ensure you get the show you desire.

El Palacio Andaluz

^{Calle Matemáticos Rey Pastor y Castro, 4}

Located near the amusement park, Isla Magica, this venue offers visitors dinner and a show surrounded by the old Seville flamenco cafe ambiance. There is also a small museum dedicated to flamenco costumes.

La Casa del Flamenco – temporarily closed (as of mid 2024)

^{Calle Ximénez de Enciso}

Can children watch flamenco in Seville?

It really depends on your child and the venue. Some venues don’t allow small children, others do. You know your kid – if they can sit still and not disrupt a performance then you can try taking them but disrupting the show isn’t really done.

My kids, at 10 and 12, for example could sit still but they would probably be telling me in loud whispers that they’re bored after about 20 minutes so I still wouldn’t take them.

I was recently at a performance where a small child was quiet but couldn’t sit still. Her mum took her out for most of it and although the kid really wasn’t trouble, a) the mum was stressed, and b) she absolutely was noticed by one of the dancers (who then put her on stage at the end, which was adorable and apparently really not the norm).

🛝 There are plenty of excellent things to do with kids in Seville. In my opinion, only you can know if your child will enjoy a flamenco performance.

Want to learn flamenco?

Seville is the right place for this too! There are plenty of flamenco schools offering classes of varying lengths and experiences for people interested in dance and music.