Learn This Bulerías Remate [Flamenco Dance Steps]
Do you love a little slapping and clapping?
If so you’ll definitely want to try the following bulerías remate:
A remate can be done using footwork, palmas, body movements, or a combination of any of these.
(The main components of this one are footwork and palmas.)
We use a remate to accentuate or finish something off in flamenco.
How could you dance this step with the singing?
You can put this remate at the end of any line of cante to coincide with the singer’s caída.
Here you can watch me do it at end of the letra by David Lagos.
You can also use this remate when the singer takes a respiro, a break.
You could even put it after a llamada.
If you’re improvising por bulerías and trying to dance with the singing,
I recommend aiming to do it with a caída rather than during a respiro.
Why?
You don’t know when or if the singer will take a respiro, but there are usually cues in the music to signal the caída is approaching.
That said, it’s not always easy to hear the caídas, but the more you listen to flamenco music, the easier it is to anticpate them.
And the truth is,
If you miss the caída, it’s no big deal, as long as you stay in compás.
Ready to Learn This Step?
Some notes:
Keep your left arm in place for the first part of the step.
(Otherwise It will be difficult to stay in compás when you go fast. Also leaving the arm in place looks better and more controlled.)
Remember to lift your leg from behind with each golpe.
(I know the feet are a little hard to see, but there’s nothing fancy happening there.)
Here are the steps & counts:
12 left golpe (stomp)
& palma (clap)
1 hold
& slap right thigh
2 left golpe
& palma
3 hold
& slap right thigh
4 left golpe
& palma
5 hold
& slap right thigh
6 left golpe
7 hold
8 right step w/ ball of foot
9 hold
10 left step w/ ball of foot
Your Turn
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Want to Learn More About Bulerías an related palos?
Join me for an exclusive online workshop, with David Lagos where he’ll dissect for us the branch of flamenco including: La Caña/ El Polo, La Soleá, Bulería por Solea, and Bulería de Jerez.
You can join us live in October, or take the workshop on demand. Get the details here.