Italy or Spain: Most culturally foreign to Europe

[Peyrol]

I don't think southern Italy is like Arab lands, I think rather that some of West Asia is like Europe and not like Saudi Arabia.

Oh, c'mon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony

[Dombra]

And flamenco is gypsy, not arabic.

Thus foreign

[Empecinado]

Flamenco.

Flamenco is a traditional Gypsy dance. I ask for Spanish.

[Sikeliot]

Flamenco is a traditional Gypsy dance. I ask for Spanish.

Isn't it appropriated as part of Spanish culture though, even if not truly Spanish?

[Ibericus]

Thus foreign

Gypsys themselves are foreign, or you think somalis are part of swedish culture ?

[Raikaswinþs]

Flamenco.

Flamenco has foreign influences (arabic and gypsy) but it is not foreign to the region itself. It has its roots on the traditional music and dance of southwestern Spain since ancient times. Some of these dances were so popular in the Roman Empire that they rivalred in popularity in the imperial capital with the Syrian dancers. The romans called some of these dancrs the "Girls from Cadiz".

This dancing tradition was present in the area since Tartessic times. If Tartessos is, as it seems to be, a proto-celtic culture, Flamenco can be considered to have a proto-celtic origin. Of course it has come a long way to its current form, as these southern Iberian dances have evolved through time and added eastern spices to it. But still as bit as European as Polka or Sardana (And far more aesthetically pleasing too )

[Peyrol]

That's a good spanish song, lol...not the Flamenco

[Sikeliot]

That's a good spanish song, lol...not the Flamenco

Sounds like Irish music, only in Spanish.

[Raikaswinþs]

BTW this thread is a serious candidate for Darwin Award of the year. And we're just in February. Next thread: Are tomatoes really fruits?

[Sikeliot]

Flamenco has foreign influences (arabic and gypsy) but it is not foreign to the region itself. It has its roots on the traditional music and dance of southwestern Spain since ancient times. Some of these dances were so popular in the Roman Empire that they rivalred in popularity in the imperial capital with the Syrian dancers. The romans called some of these dancrs the "Girls from Cadiz".

This dancing tradition was present in the area since Tartessic times. If Tartessos is, as it seems to be, a proto-celtic culture, Flamenco can be considered to have a proto-celtic origin. Of course it has come a long way to its current form, as these southern Iberian dances have evolved through time and added eastern spices to it. But still as bit as European as Polka or Sardana (And far more aesthetically pleasing too )

There is nothing like it elsewhere in Europe, and there are similar dances in Morocco now, whether through Spanish influence or coincidentally.