The enthralling beauty, grace and demanding technique of Spanish dance have captivated audiences for centuries. Bolero, fandango, flamenco (to name only a few)--these styles of dance are absolutely unique and have had an immense influence on popular dance today. Learning about the history of Spanish dance can only lead to a deeper appreciation of this great cultural art form.

Definition
A brief definition may be helpful before diving into the history of Spanish dance. As explained on Carmen de Vicente's website, Spanish dance is an umbrella term that includes several specific forms of dance, including folklore, flamenco, classical Spanish dance ("estilización"), 18th century dances, ballet (classical dance), and castanets. In this article, the two most popular forms of Spanish dance will be discussed: bolero and flamenco.

Bolero
According to Enforex's online article on the history of Spanish dance, the Bolero is the oldest form of Spanish dance. In 1780, as noted by the Sweetswings Dance History Archives website, a ballet dancer named Sebastian Zerezo began to use this folk dance in his ballet choreography, which led to an increase in the popularity of bolero. Bolero resembles the fandango and is the national dance of Spain. In modern times, bolero has been further developed in Cuba, but the Cuban and Spanish versions are actually quite different.

Flamenco
The flamenco's history is as complex and fascinating as the dance itself. The precise dates of its origin are unknown, but according to Latin Ballet of Virginia's Dance History website, it probably began to develop around the time of the Spanish Inquisition (1391). During this early period, flamenco was not designated as a specific form of dance; rather, it was a well-known folk dance, possibly introduced by Gypsies who came to Spain from India. Castanets, which are the small, handheld percussion instruments used to accompany flamenco dancers, originally came from Egypt and Crete. It is not until 1800 that the first records of flamenco dancers appear, the most famous being El Planeta of Cadiz.

Culture
Many kinds of Spanish dance are tailored for specific events or festivals in Spanish culture. Dance was often used at the royal court or during religious events. History.com's encyclopedia entry provides many examples of such uses of Spanish dance, including the Andalusian girls who danced to entertain the Romans, a dance used to entertain King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and liturgical dances that were developed by the Catholic Church. The origin of Spanish dance, despite the technical advances and developments it has made, lies perhaps closest to the common people. Much like classical ballet, before Spanish dance was a technical art, it was a form of everyday entertainment.

Today
It is likely that many forms of Latin American dance would not exist today, were it not for their Spanish ancestors. The salsa, for instance, developed from a combination of African and Spanish music and dance, as described at centralhome.com's "History of Salsa Dance and Music." Like the changes that the modern dance movement brought to classical ballet, Spanish dance also has had its own version of a stylistic revamp, as described in the interesting New York Times article "Contemporary Spanish Dance: New Voices, and No Castanets." These new movements in Spanish dance are accompanied by an increase in the popularity of Spanish folk dances such as the fandango, flamenco and bolero, as well as the Latin American dance forms that they inspired.