The essence of flamenco is song, often accompanied by the guitar and improvised dance. Music and dance can be placed into specific groups. These categories are usually located across a continuum with s...

1. In flamenco dance, the themes of death, anguish and despair, in contrast to love, gaiety and the countryside are categorized as emotions. 2. These emotions are portrayed through drama. 3. Footwork in women's dancing is of less importance, with the graceful use of hands and body taking precedence. 4. Graceful use of hands and body takes precedence over footwork in women's dancing. 5. Essential to traditional flamenco is the performer's interpretation of the dance hindered by the emotion of the music. 6. Performances are often accompanied by rapid hand clapping, finger snapping and encouraging shouts. 7. This dance form was professionalized in the 19th century when Romany people first began to perform in cafes. 8. In this environment, departures from the traditional form occurred. 9. Unfortunately, the pressures of the commercial stage meant that rehearsed routines replaced the spontaneity of the original flamenco performances. 10. The spontaneity of the original flamenco performances was replaced by rehearsed routines due to the pressures of the commercial stage.