On the outside of the old city in Granada, up on the hillside overlooking the Alhambra, there is a region known as the sacramonte. It is a cavernous region where the gypsies, having helped in the reconquest with their knowledge of metalwork, moved afterward because they did not want to integrate into mainstream society with its requirements and expectations of taxes and servitude to the crown. Instead, they preferred their relative independence and so stayed in caves outside of the walled old city. Now these caves are characteristic of the gypsies (though very few still live there) and of course their unique style of dance, the Flamenco. Here I am with a group of students and tourists in one of the caves waiting for the beginning of a flamenco show. It was amazing to go back to the origins and see the characteristic Spanish dance while sitting across from the symbol of the Spanish reconquest.
Our first flamenco dancer.
One of the few male flamenco dancers that performed for us in our little cave.
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