By Genevieve Obregón
What is a flamenco palo?
In the world of flamenco, you’ll often hear the word palo tossed around:
“What palo are you dancing?”
So… what does it actually mean?
Stick?
Well, yes — literally. But in flamenco? Not quite.
A palo refers to a musical branch or style within flamenco. According to the Real Academia Española (RAE), it is defined as “cada una de las variedades tradicionales del cante flamenco” — “each one of the traditional varieties of flamenco song.”
Each palo has its own distinct character. They are differentiated by elements such as:
- Rhythmic structure (compás)
- Musical phrasing
- Tempo
- Lyrics (letra)
- Geographic origin
- Emotional tone
Some palos commonly danced include:
Tangos
Alegrías
Bulerías
Siguiriyas
Soleá
Bamberas
…and many more.
Focus on Tangos
Tangos (my personal favorite!) is often one of the first palos dancers learn. It has a grounded, driving compás and a playful yet earthy energy.
Two fantastic examples:
La Moneta dancing to the rhythm of tangos — a great way to experience the raw compás, accents, and dynamic breaks of the palo.
La Lupi performing Tangos de Málaga (La Repompa), where you can clearly hear the letra and regional flavor of this style.
Both artists embody the depth and vitality of tangos, each in her own powerful way.
How to Count Tangos Palmas
In flamenco, Tangos is one of the most accessible palos to learn rhythmically because it’s built on a 4-beat cycle. If you can count to four steadily, you can start clapping Tangos. Unlike palos such as Bulerías or Soleá, Tangos does not use a 12-beat cycle. It’s grounded, square, and driving.
I hope you enjoyed exploring this palo! Explore current learning opportunities in the WeFlamenco Studio Directory.
In the comments, tell me — what’s your favorite palo?