How to Master Flamenco Rhythm: The Compas Clock

One of the hardest things about flamenco dance - apart from achieving speed and accuracy in your footwork - is mastering the compás (rhythm).

Even in a simple dance like the Sevillanas, the way the dance steps fit into the 6-beat rhythm can feel strange to anyone who's grown up with simple 3/4 and 4/4 timing. And as for the 12-beat rhythms....but that's where the compás clock comes to the rescue.

The clock can only be used for palos which have 12 beats to the bar.

New students often think the bulerias, siguiriyas and alegrias have different rhythms. Visually displayed this way, it's obvious the emphasis on the same beats (3, 6, 8,10, 12) for every dance - the only thing that's different is where you start!

The best way to get the hang of this is to try clapping it out as your eye follows the clock face.

So for the bulerias, you'll start with a loud clap on 12, and follow the clock around, putting emphasis on the beats in bold. The starting point of all the other 12-beat rhythms is also marked on the clock face.

One of the reasons I struggled with the compás was that I'm not a "counter". When I danced ballet, I had no trouble following the beat - but when I took up flamenco, "feel" was no longer enough.

For those of us who haven't grown up with flamenco music, the compás is not natural, so we're not going to "feel" it naturally. Counting is essential, at least when you're a beginner.

Perhaps it's because in flamenco, it's not just the rhythm of the music you have to count, but the rhythm of your feet and perhaps even your castanets. That's a lot of beats for your subconscious to handle!

While you're practicing flamenco rhythm in class, you'll have your teacher shouting the beats or clapping to help you keep time. But when it comes to solo practice, it's pretty hard to clap and dance at the same time!

The answer is a metronome. Most serious flamenco students own one. I have to admit, I always prefer to practice to music - but sometimes, it really does help to strip away the distractions of melody, so you can focus on hitting that beat exactly in the middle. That's especially true as you get more advanced, and have to dance complex zapateado over the top of the rhythm.

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If you like this article, you can read more at my flamenco website, Dress for Flamenco

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Text of this article copyright Marisa Wright. Compas clock with permission from Sal Bonavita of the Nylon Guitarist. Photo by Ricardo Navarro.