Originally Posted by
Ojįncanu
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 )
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