¡Qué Alegría!

Alegrías is such a wonderful rhythm in flamenco!

Happiness! Joy! Plus there’s so much depth and emotion that can be expressed. This palo of flamenco (flamenco rhythm) originates from the coastal town of Cádiz and belongs in the rhythmical family of cantiñas.

 

COMPAS

It’s a 12 count like Solea por Bulerías, so it starts on 12 and ends on 10:

12 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11

12 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 –12

However, the Silencio and the Escobilla starts on the 1 and ends on the 12:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12

 

STRUCTURE

The structure of a dance of Alegrías is similar to all the others with a few additions:

• Falseta (guitar solo)
• Entrada (singer sings “tiri ti tran”)
• Llamada (accented move by dancer to “call” the singer to sing)
• Letra (verse)
• Llamada (call)
• Letra (verse)
• Falseta (guitar solo)
• Subida (tempo build up) that ends with a Cierre (a break that ends the movement series)
• Silencio (falseta for Alegrías)
• Castellana (optional verse that picks up tempo)
• Escobilla (footwork)
• Bulerías de Cádiz (fast verse)
• Estribillo (ending chorus)

 

Of course, there are many variations to this structure. There can be more letras and falsetas. Or there can be more spots for different escobillas. The dancer could not even do the castellana. Options!!! Choices!!!

But please note that this whole outline that I wrote is rather long. If you’re an experienced dancer, all you would have to say to the musicians if you’re dancing in tablao without rehearsal is, “I’m dancing Alegrías and I want 2 letras,” and the rest is just understood.

 

LETRA

The actual letra of Alegrías is pretty standard in that each line of cante goes for each compás. The real difference though is if the singer adds a “coletilla” or a little tail to the letra, so that it becomes one long letra.

When I say the line is “even,” that the energy is even. For “bringing up the vibe,” I mean that the singer’s intonation goes up so that it gets ready to “resolve.” And for “resolve,” I mean that is where the dancer accents along with the singer.

LETRA (7 compases)

• Line 1 even 
• Line 2 even 
• Line 3 even 
• Line 4 bringing up the vibe 
• Line 5 resolve
• Line 6 bringing up the vibe
• Line 7 resolve

 

COLETILLA (optional- could 3-4 compases)

• Line 1 even
• Line 2 even
• Line 3 bringing up the vibe
• Line 4 resolve

Entire long letra=  11 compases

 

BREAKDOWN OF COMPLETE DANCE

This Alegrías that I performed follows the very basic structure that I outlined. I recall there being minimal rehearsal, mainly so that my students could get used to playing palmas for me. I’ve included a breakdown of my solo below.  Enjoy!

• Beginning with falseta
• :47 singer entrada with letra (not tiri ti tran)
• 1:03 llamada
• 1:17 letra
• 1:48 coletilla (so, one long letra)
• 2:14 llamada
• 2:32 letra
• 3:07 coletilla
• 3:30 subida
• 3:42 cierre
• 3:51 silencio
• 4:55 escobilla
• 6:35 Bulerías de Cádiz
• 7:00 estribillo

Alegrías con mantón. Rina Orellana, Reyes Barrios, Kai Narezo. Feria de Abril en Los Alamitos, 2018.