Flamenco is the traditional song and dance of the Gypsies (flamencos) of Andalusia in southern Spain. Developing over several centuries from Gypsy, Moorish, Andalusian and other roots, flamenco music and dance entered polite society in the early 19th century as café entertainment.

Flamenco combines guitar playing, singing, chanting, dancing and staccato handclapping. The flamenco dancer performs with passion, fervour, even tortured expressions but always striving for grace and dignity. The guitar: there may be one or several — and the rapid rhythmic handclapping of the singers and dancers set the scene.

Flamenco handclapping produces a sharp, almost piercing sound. Those performers not dancing or guitar playing hold the left arm still. It's bent at the elbow with the hand about neck high and just slightly cupped. The fingers of the right hand slap the left crosswise, covering the hollow.

But the focus remains on the music. Mostly instrumental now and accompanied with a full band, Flamenco is sometimes thought as the definition of Spanish music. Like Latin American music, many world fusion artists incorporate elements of Flamenco in their music because of its popularity and recognizable quality.