Studying Flamenco and Spanish in Granada, Spain

If your blood boils at the sights and sounds of flamenco, Spanish language, and Moorish history, then Granada is the place to satisfy your thirst for cultural immersion. Nightly flamenco shows, the ancient Moorish Alhambra palace, and colorful Moroccan tapestry and tea rooms make Granada the most unique Spanish city with the most valuable programs for a foreign student.

This past spring, I enrolled in a 2-week intensive at Carmen de las Cuevas, a unique school for foreigners, offering Spanish language and flamenco classes. I found affordability, value, a friendly atmosphere, and an experience unparalleled to my previous travels.

Flamenco Aficionado

After studying flamenco dance for three years in Los Angeles, California, I took the leap to go study with the authentic teachers in the birthplace of flamenco, Andalucía, Spain. Initially I thought I would have to make a big time commitment and spend lots of money. But that was not the case with Escuela Carmen de las Cuevas. The school offers 2-week immersion programs where you can learn flamenco dance, flamenco guitar, Spanish history, and language all in one place. For as little as 165 Euros (or roughly US$244), you can learn an entire flamenco choreography in two weeks. For about 200 Euros (or US$300.00), you receive two weeks of daily guitar lessons. There are three levels in the flamenco program: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The teachers at Carmen de las Cuevas are some of the most reputable in the whole of Andalucía, Spain, and occasionally include notable visiting artists. My own flamenco teacher from Los Angeles had recommended this school where she had once studied.

Although I did not study Spanish language there, the school has a high quality language program which is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes--the highest level of accreditation in its class. Carmen first started out as a language school only and was the first to offer Spanish for foreigners in Granada. So, if you are looking to brush up on your Spanish while learning flamenco, you can also add on language courses for as little as 150 Euros per week (three hours per day/15 hours per week). In 2007, they added a part-time Intensive Spanish beginner's course (7.5 hours of language study per week), for those who have less time but still want to experience language immersion.

During my stay there, I met students who traveled from as far as Australia and Japan and who share the same passion for flamenco and all things Andaluz. I also took advantage of Carmen’s free cultural program, which consists of daily guided morning walks and lectures highlighting the historical sites of Granada. This is available to all students enrolled in at least one course. It doesn’t matter if you are only interested in either language or flamenco. All classes are offered a la carte and don’t conflict on the schedule. And the friendly office staff will help you meet your requirements. They will even work with you to drop or add a class after the start date. Language classes typically run in the mornings and dance and guitar sessions are split between morning and afternoons.

The schedule leaves plenty of time to take in the sights. I did feel a bit exhausted from three hours of daily dancing, but saved my energy for socializing and catching nightly flamenco shows or enjoying tapas with friends. However, you will find that you have to pace yourself, especially when enrolled in multiple courses per day. There is just so much to see and do in Granada. While two weeks is the minimum program enrollment for flamenco, language courses have a minimum of a 1-week commitment. Carmen will allow you to extend your stay for months at a time. The school runs year-round and is only closed during the Christmas holidays.

Spanish Language School in Granada, Spain

A Rich Cultural Tradition

Carmen de las Cuevas is the only foreign language and flamenco school situated right in the heart of the Albayzin-the old Arab quarter which was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1984. You can walk a few minutes uphill and reach the Sacromonte, where the famous gypsy-dwelling caves have now been mostly converted into flamenco venues. Still, the art of flamenco continues to be carried on there as a rich and pure tradition, or flamenco puro. Ask anybody in Granada and they will share with you their own passion for flamenco, and they may even share their family histories.

In Granada, the gypsy culture is respected as an essential part of Andalucian history. While in other areas of Europe I have had some negative experiences with gypsies in the streets or in train stations, in Granada I found Spanish gitanas to be approachable and warm, a valuable part of the regional culture. Still, as with any new place you travel, it is advisable to always be polite to the local people, never assume anything, and show a genuine interest in learning about their way of life.

While the local vibe in the city center is infectious, the magnificence of the Alhambra took me deeper into the history of the Granainas. To see the Alhambra, I had to pre-book my ticket at least a day in advance. Carmen de las Cuevas will help arrange this service for you. You can’t leave Granada without spending at least a half day at the Alhambra. You may have to visit the site over two days to soak it in, much like the Louvre in Paris. During the weekend, when there were no classes, I booked a guided day tour to the Alpujarras mountain villages high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains. There I found a world apart from the city life. The string of small mountain villages are known to prepare some of the best jamon Serrano, the cured ham for which Spain is notorious. It is worth the money (roughly 40-50 Euros) for an all-day bus and walking tour, if for nothing else, the breathtaking views, a dose of pure mountain air, and fabulous photo opportunities.

While enrolled in your intensive courses, make sure to also spend a couple afternoons indulging in the Moroccan tea rooms or teterias, in the lower Albayzin, where you are served an authentic Moroccan tea and perhaps a pastry or two. Don’t forget to negotiate a good bargain for the scarves, teas, and a variety of other souvenirs in the booths and shops adjacent to the teterias.

What Makes Granada Special

Whether you have two weeks or three months at your disposal, you will receive the most value for your time in Granada without the hindrances of a larger city: tourist traffic, rude or uninviting locals, and costly meals. For students this means it is possible to stay longer if they so choose without cutting too much into their budget. For example, take the tapas experience. Unique to Granada, tapas are served free with each alcoholic beverage you order. Another welcoming aspect of Granada is its small town feel. I found myself running into the same person twice in one day. If you like such an intimate atmosphere, this is the place for you. In addition, most of the neighborhoods are safe enough to walk alone at night. And if you stay in the famed Albayzin neighborhood, as I did, you will likely be mingling with the friendly residents, most of whom have lived there for many generations.

For More Information

Carmen de las Cuevas: www.Carmencuevas.com; estrella@carmencuevas.com.

How to get there: Bus from Madrid or Sevilla via Alsinea Graells, www2.alsa.es, costs only about 18 Euros one way.

Where to Stay: Carmen de las Cuevas can book your accommodations for the entire length of the course, as well as any additional nights outside of the program, in an affordable hostel or hotel.
Shared Apartment/Single Room/2 weeks: 187.50 Euros.
Shared Apartment/Shared Room/2 weeks: 135.50 Euros.

Other Reputable Flamenco Schools in Granada: www.escuelaflamenco.com.

Other Reputable Language Programs in Granada: www.donquijote.org/english/granada.asp, www.escuela-montalban.com.

About the Author:
Mariette Tachdjian is a freelance writer, flamenco aficionado, and an avid traveller, based in Los Angeles, California.