The click of castanets and the swishing of fans could be heard as the ladies of Llantilio Crossenny WI enjoyed an evening of Flamenco at their June meeting.

We were blessed with a beautifully warm evening in which to savour a journey through southern Spain and the fascinating world of flamenco with the talented Lesley Mills. We started with a glass of tinto de verano (alcoholic and non alcoholic versions) whilst admiring a selection of beautiful dresses - the traja de flamenca.

Then we sat and immersed ourselves in the history of fascinating flamenco with its mysterious origins in the turbulent times of the Spanish Inquisition in the late 1400s. The musical cultures of the Moors, Jews and Gitanos melded in adversity to start the basis of flamenco music with its different rhythms, hand clapping and basic dance movements. Lesley demonstrated these elements beautifully. Time passed and fast forward to the so called ‘golden age of flamenco’ in the late 19th and early 20th century when music cafes featuring flamenco dancers and accompanying guitarists flourished and then continued to evolve into the art form that it is today.

Our group especially enjoyed learning about and playing the castanets. The rhythmic, repetitive patterns of flamenco are fundamental to its songs and dances and we were very happy to gain an understanding first hand of how even simple rapid clicking of the castanets can be quite demanding.

Lesley also brought along some traditional Spanish fans, another essential accessory for a flamenco dancer. We learned how to flick open the fan and use it to convey emotions and meaning. This raised a chuckle or two.

Lesley then took our attention back to the dresses on display. She explained that the dresses can be very heavy, which means that the dancer really has to concentrate simply to maintain balance as they dance, let alone add in the intricate moves and rhythms. We now know that the ruffles are strategically placed to create a sense of drama and movement and that the dress designs reflect the deep roots of flamenco, including the famous polka dots and the symbolic colour of red.

After learning about the history of flamenco and the many elements that combine to create the dance form, Lesley took us on a trip around Andalusia, the home of flamenco. The differing flamenco dance styles of Granada, Seville, Cordoba were shown to us and was a wonderful demonstration of its intricacies and passion. Lesley’s footwork was incredible using a combination of stamps or zapateado (flat and forceful) and taps (light and precise) with the heel, toe and ball of the foot. Her arm movements, clapping, posture and facial expressions all combined to convey the emotion and skill of the dance and indeed the turbulent historical origins of flamenco. It was a truly memorable evening enjoyed by us all.

The flamenco demonstration was preceded by the business part of the evening. This was the first meeting chaired by our new President, Margaret Parry. Amongst many other items, this year’s campaign focus of ‘Bystanders can be Lifesavers’ (for all WIs across the country) was highlighted. We hope to play our part as a WI in helping to raise awareness of heart related issues (specifically for women) as well as CPR and the use of defibrillators. We also planned various summer trips and activities, including those organised by the Gwent Federation of WI (GFWI).

As always, there is a lot going on at Llantilio Crossenny WI. Come along to our next meeting at Llanvapley Pavilion on Wednesday 10th September at 7.00pm when Jude Rogers will be the speaker for the evening and will talk to us about “Music and the Brain”. It should be another absorbing evening.