Feminine versus Masculine: The Dichotomies of Movement in Spanish Flamenco

Abstract

The article is devoted to analyzing gender-related division of movement in flamenco dance. The primary dichotomy: feminine/masculine is a starting point for isolating other crucial binary oppositions: chaos/order, submissiveness/domination, etc. The aim of this article is to illustrate how a gender-specific use of dance techniques reveals Andalusian habitus. Through an anthropological reading of flamenco dance, the condition of masculinity and femininity in Southern Spain can be displayed.