Flamenco - Sevillanas Paso a Paso

Before all the flamenco purists write to me in horror - yes, I know you say the Sevillanas is not a flamenco palo. However, many flamenco schools teach it as part of their syllabus and include it in their performances - so there are plenty of flamenco students out there, who need to know its steps.

Sevillanas is actually an Andalusian folk dance. The dance is made up of coplas (verses), each one with a different choreography. Sevillanas is never improvised, unlike other flamenco dances - which is one reason why it's so often taught as a first dance in flamenco schools.

The first copla is the easiest. All the following coplas use the basic steps from this one in different combinations and with extra flourishes - so once you've mastered this one, you're half way there.

The video below is by one of my favourite Australian flamenco dancers, Tomás, who teaches in Canberra.

The following video clips are not instructional. I've chosen three different sets of dancers to show you that Sevillanas can look different depending on who's dancing it and where. 

At a feria, things can get so crowded it's hard to keep track of your partner - but people tend to let it all hang out anyway.  In a nightclub, steps are more likely to be sketched out rather than danced.  I've seen Madrid-trained flamenco dancers who made Sevillanas look like a ballet ...

.....and you can even dance it with a horse...

Below is a table showing the steps in each Sevillanas copla. Note that each copla is split up into three sections.

The table uses the Spanish names for each step, translated below:

• Careos - Type of passing step used in fourth copla only
• Esquinas (lit. “corners”) - side to side step
  
• Pasada - Passing step, changing place with your partner
  
• Sevillana - basic Sevillanas step
• Vuelta - Flamenco turn
• Zapateado - stamping footwork

Rond de jambe and pas de basque are two steps from ballet, used in the second copla.

Note this is one version of the steps - you will see many variations of detail.