Fondness for Flamenco (a genre of Spanish music and dance) in Qatar has grown in the past few years. Flamenco was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.
Flamenco aficionados got together for the first time in 2010 for a workshop given by Ruben Martin, a bailaor (flamenco dancer) original from Cordoba, in the Spanish region of Andalusia.
This dancer lived in Qatar for three years and often returns to give flamenco workshops with the participation of both men and women. In Doha, especially Europeans and Latin Americans enjoy Flamenco.
Ruben Martin has tapped his feet all over the world, from Dubai to Zurich, Venice and Taipei. Here in Qatar, the first week of December he taught a class for beginners and experts. He is proud to bring Spanish culture to the Middle East and said that love for Flamenco is growing in the region.
At 15 years old he entered the Professional Conservatory of Dance of Cordoba and at 17 he transferred to the Professional Conservatory of Dance of Madrid to extend his studies. Many experiences followed and life brought him to Qatar. Doha has its very own Peña Flamenca that often gets together to practice. Martin was part of it from the beginning and soon gathered many aficionados.
The Peninsula
