Dance like a gypsy

Flamenco dancer Shehzeen Cassum believes that the dance form needs to be popularised in India. As part of her Namaste Flamenco initiative, Shehzeen and her troop are all set to wow the audience with Arte Puro or traditional flamenco dance

Flamenco, the ancient Spanish dance form, is not just an intrinsic part of Spanish culture but also has connections closer home. Many believe that the dance form was brought to Spain by gypsies from Rajasthan. Flamenco dancer Shehzeen Cassum opened the Flamenco Academy and Dance Company and began the Namaste Flamenco movement in 2011 to create an appreciation for the dance form in India as well as forge a connection between the two cultures.

The movement has picked up some tempo of late with guest performances and workshops being conducted by professional dancers from Spain. Shehzeen and a troop of fellow flamenco performers are now all geared up to bring an evening of Spanish dance and music on June 15 at the House of Wow. With an aim to bring the feel of an Andalusian Tablao, a special menu of Spanish tapas and cocktails will also be served at the creative space.

“Not many people in India know what flamenco is all about,” says Shehzeen, who has been a dancer since the age of five and a flamenco dancer in particular since the age of 16. “Some even mix it up with flamingo and then I have to tell them it’s not a bird. It’s a dance form,” she says with a laugh. The dancer also claims that Bollywood renditions of the dance form, such as those that appear in Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, remain woefully inaccurate. “Flamenco is an ancient and complex form of dance and Bollywood just hasn’t been able to get it right yet,” she adds.

Shehzeen is constantly fascinated by the similarities between Indian classical forms of dance and flamenco. “The teen taal in Indian classical music is exactly the same as Tangos Compas, which is a special flamenco rhythm,” she explains. “If kathak dancers took off their ghungroos and flamenco dancers took off their dancing shoes, the steps would look surprisingly similar. It makes it quite fun to orchestrate fusion dance numbers.”

Guitarist Christopher Krishnamoorthy, who, along with Harsh Trivedi, will be accompanying Shehzheen and her troop, consisting of Anant Joshi and renowned flamenco dancer Fatima Fernandez, also appreciates the unique rhythms of flamenco. “Unlike rock music, flamenco can’t be picked up by ear or without some kind of written guide. You have to only pluck on the strings instead of strumming and the rhythms are very complex too,” he explains. “Flamenco music is much more than just a romantic or intense expression of feeling. It can express a rainbow of different moods,” he concludes.

Shehzeen and her troop will be performing on July 15, 9 pm onwards, at the House of Wow, Bandra (W)