Farruca

Farruca (Spanish pronunciation: [faˈruka]) is a palo, or musical form, of flamenco. It developed as a flamenco style in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is usually classified among the lighter or more stylized forms of flamenco, often described as a cante chico. The form is traditionally associated with Galicia or with Galician musical imagery, although its precise geographical origin has not been established with certainty. The Instituto Andaluz del Flamenco defines the farruca as a cante of non-Andalusian folkloric origin that has become aflamencado, that is, adapted into flamenco style. The modern theatrical and instrumental form of the farruca is closely associated with the guitarist Ramón Montoya and the dancer Faíco, who helped establish it as a dance and guitar piece in the early twentieth century. Since then, farruca has become especially important as a vehicle for flamenco dance and solo guitar. It is often performed in A minor, with a sober and dramatic character, and is traditionally associated with masculine styling, sharply marked footwork and strong stage presence. Although the farruca was traditionally sung and danced by men, women dancers have a