Zapateado

“Zapateado” is a flamenco style which belongs to the polyrhythmic group. This is one of the most paradigmatic dances in flamenco art.

 

Its main feature is the use of tap-dance as percussion. It seems that the origin of “zapateado” is located in the Atlantic cultural exchange, since in many countries in America, there exist some kind of tap dancing, similar to the “zapateo”: in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba.

 

“Zapateado” of Cadiz was one of the first to emerge. Flamenco dancer Josefa Vargas might be one of the pioneers of “zapateado”, according to the references of the media in October 1850. The “zapateado” adopted polyrhythm of “tanguillos”, possibly due to the richness of this style.

 

Nowadays "zapateado" is not a very usual dance. But, the guitar has always been an instrument faithful to this flamenco style, which is found in the guitarist's repertoire.