Seville is one of the world centres of flamenco. This Spanish genre of music and dance originated in Andalusia in the 18th century and is based on Andalusian music and dance of the Roma people of the region who played a fundamental role in its creation and development. The main expressions of flamenco are singing, guitar playing and dancing.

Flamenco is enormously popular in Spain and is one of the most powerful emblems of Spanish identity. Many countries have specialised academies to teach flamenco art. In Japan, it is so popular that the country has more flamenco and schools than Spain. In November 2010, UNESCO declared flamenco to be part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In Seville, visitors can find the “holy of holies” of this art, with some of the leading centres in the world.

Museum of Flamenco Dance A unique space for flamenco Though the city has numerous flamenco venues, or “tablaos”, with excellent performances in which visitors can even participate, the city also has leading academies and even a unique space to help understand the ancestral origins of flamenco, the Museum of Flamenco Dance. www.museoflamenco.com