Flamenco Shows in Seville

Flamenco in Seville – introduction

Flamenco is a Spanish icon, especially in Andalusia. It is now totally clear where, how, and even where flamenco originated. But one thing is for sure: Seville is one of the capitals of Flamenco and a city where many locals enjoy shows or just drinks and music.

Not all Flamenco shows are suited for everybody. Some shows are meant for experts, others specialize in only one sort of flamenco, etc. Locals will not enjoy many occasions the flamenco shows designed for tourists. They may eventually consider they try to cover too many things in a short time. At the same time, if a person that is not an expert in flamenco visits one of the peñas on a day in which the show is not varied, may consider Flamenco is someone boring…  It is impossible to please everybody all the time! 

In this article we are going to explain the differences amongst the different types of places where flamenco can be enjoyed. We will provide the best options, addresses, and our recommendations to ensure you book the flamenco show that best matches your expectations. 

Different Places Where Flamenco is Played in Seville

You can generally expect to find flamenco at four different types of places: peñas, tablaos, cultural centres, and bars. Let´s cover each of them briefly before presenting the alternatives you have to enjoy flamenco in Seville:

• Peñas: A peña is by definition a private group of people. Peñas are very common in Spain in soccer. In flamenco, a peña is a group of people who enjoy flamenco and meet regularly. You can think of it as a very popular version of a club. There are no less than 80 peñas flamencas in Seville! And each of them can gather around 200 people. Peñas are places where people gather to talk about flamenco and other things. This is not a place for professionals, and you could expect performances of young people, the elderly, or professionals who feel like joining that night (because they continue to be part of the peña) and perform without the constraints of a show.
• Tablaos: A Tablao literally means a stand made of wood. The name tablao flamenco refers today to places (clubs or theatres) where flamenco shows are organized. This is the type of show tourists typically go to. Some locals may consider them less spontaneous than what is typically enjoyed at a peña. This is true, but at the same time, it makes all sense. Attendants to a peña visit every week, so they would not enjoy a show that portrays the fundamentals of flamenco: they have simply enjoyed it too many times! Flamenco shows at Tablaos can today be booked online and the price is the same as what you would expect to pay at the Tablao while at the same time you secure a place. Tablaos typically provide a drink with your ticket, and the option to order more, and some of them also provide the option to enjoy tapas or 3-course dinners.
• Cultural centers: These are the rarest places. These places are privately or publically funded institutions that frequently run programs dedicated to flamenco and its culture. Fundación Cajasol is a good example of this type of institution.
• Bars: Some bars in Seville have small areas where flamenco singers or guitar players perform. This typically only happens at night. Do not expect the flamenco show you have in mind though.