Imagine hundreds - maybe even thousands - of Sevillanas dancers taking over London with colourful dresses, smart suits and great passion.
Now stop imagining. This is for real, and you could be a part of it!
It's all set to happen May 25th on Regent Street as part of a two week Spanish culture festival that will also overtake Heddon Street and Borough Market. The events are sponsored by the Spanish Tourist Office and promise to bring much colour and life to London, regardless of the weather.
The May 25th Sevillanas dance extravaganza will aim to set a world record of the largest flamenco dancing display ever. And would you believe that free Sevillanas classes are being offered at various points throughout the city?
Sevillanas, for those who are wondering, is the form of folk dancing that comes from the city of Seville. Whether or not it is really a form of flamenco dancing is a question we'll leave to the experts to debate.
Sevillanas are fun and if you haven't learned this traditional dance yet, I recommend you give it a try. I took classes twenty years ago and can still remember enough to pass back and forth at the right moment!
Every Sevillana song has four verses and a chorus. There is a different dance for each verse and then of course, a set of moves for the chorus. You'll have to learn to keep the special rhythm with both hands and feet - that's the tricky part. In fact, the coordination of hands and feet can be so tricky, especially given the artistic moves you're supposes to make with your wrists, that everyone agrees that the faster the Sevillana the better. A slow, romantic or mournful Sevillana requires great skill and grace!
So what are you waiting for? Get a lesson or two, pack your Flamenco gear and hop on a plane to London. They're going to need all the help they can get if they want to get into the Guinness Book of World Records!