Participatory Introduction to Flamenco: Movement, Rhythm & Expression

Part of Hidden Beach (HB)
Bandstand, Alexandra Park

About the session

This participatory workshop offers an accessible introduction to flamenco movement, rhythm and expression, inviting participants to engage with flamenco as a cultural practice rooted in community, history and embodied storytelling. Delivered as part of Hidden Beach (HB), the session prioritises inclusion, participation and shared experience over performance or technical mastery.

Taking place at the Bandstand in Alexandra Park, Hastings, the workshop brings high-quality cultural activity into a public outdoor setting, making it visible, welcoming and accessible to a wide range of people. The session is donations-based, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation and that everyone can take part regardless of financial circumstances.

Led by experienced flamenco practitioner Fenella Barker, the workshop is designed to be welcoming to beginners and those new to flamenco. It provides a structured yet open environment in which participants can explore rhythm, posture and expressive movement at their own pace, supported by clear guidance and step-by-step activities.

Approach and ethos

The workshop is built around the principle that flamenco is best understood through participation rather than observation. Rather than focusing on choreography or performance outcomes, the session encourages embodied learning — allowing participants to experience how rhythm, movement and gesture combine to communicate feeling and story.

The delivery style is inclusive and supportive, removing pressure to perform and instead fostering confidence, curiosity and connection. Participants are invited to listen, respond and explore, developing awareness of their own movement while engaging with others in a shared cultural experience.

The donations-based model aligns with Hidden Beach’s wider commitment to equitable access, ensuring that high-quality cultural activity is available to people of different backgrounds, incomes and levels of experience.

What participants will explore

Participants are guided through the foundations of flamenco practice in a clear and accessible way. The workshop covers:

• Basic flamenco posture and grounded movement

• Simple footwork patterns focused on rhythm and clarity

• Rhythm and clapping (palmas) as a shared, collective practice

• Expressive use of arms, hands and upper body

• An introduction to the cultural roots and social context of flamenco

Activities are broken down into manageable steps, allowing participants to build confidence gradually while engaging both physically and creatively.

How the session is delivered

The workshop is delivered as a guided, participatory experience at the Bandstand, with a balance of demonstration, supported practice and creative exploration. Fenella Barker provides clear demonstrations and verbal guidance, adapting the pace and content in response to the group and the outdoor setting.

Key elements include:

• A welcoming introduction that reassures participants that no experience is required

• Clear, structured progression through movement and rhythm

• Opportunities for repetition and shared practice

• Emphasis on listening, rhythm and expressive awareness

• A relaxed, inclusive atmosphere with no pressure to perform

The open-air setting supports informality and shared experience, helping participants feel at ease while engaging with movement and rhythm.

Who the workshop is for

This workshop is suitable for:

• Adults and mixed-age participants

• Beginners and those new to flamenco or dance

• People interested in rhythm, movement and cultural forms

• Individuals seeking a creative, wellbeing-focused activity

No prior dance experience is required. Comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor movement is recommended.

Accessibility and inclusion

Accessibility is central to the design and delivery of this session. By removing ticket price barriers and offering the workshop on a donations basis, the session ensures that participation is open to everyone.

The workshop supports inclusion by:

• Removing financial barriers to access

• Focusing on participation rather than performance

• Allowing participants to work at their own pace

• Creating a supportive, non-judgemental environment

• Situating the activity in a familiar public space

Cultural context and learning

Flamenco is a rich cultural art form shaped by history, migration and community. This workshop introduces flamenco not simply as a dance style, but as a form of cultural expression that communicates emotion, identity and story.

Through guided movement and rhythm, participants gain insight into how flamenco uses the body as a communicative tool, supporting cultural understanding and appreciation in an accessible, participatory way.

Wellbeing, public space and social impact

Participation in rhythm and movement-based activity supports physical coordination, mental wellbeing and social connection. Delivered in Alexandra Park, this workshop activates public space as a site for cultural exchange, creativity and community gathering.

The session supports:

• Confidence and self-expression

• Coordination and embodied awareness

• Positive mental wellbeing

• Informal social connection through shared rhythm

Alignment with Hidden Beach (HB)

This workshop forms part of Hidden Beach (HB), a community-led cultural programme focused on access, participation and creative wellbeing. By offering donations-based workshops in public spaces, Hidden Beach supports inclusive engagement with the arts and removes common barriers to participation.

The flamenco workshop contributes to HB’s wider aims by:

• Increasing access to participatory cultural activity

• Supporting wellbeing through creative engagement

• Encouraging mixed-age and mixed-experience participation

• Celebrating cultural forms through shared practice

Practical information

• Location: Bandstand, Alexandra Park, Hastings

• Donations-based (pay what you can)

• No prior dance experience required

• Suitable for adults and mixed-age participants

• Outdoor setting — weather-appropriate clothing recommended

Why this workshop matters

Access to participatory cultural activity in public spaces plays a vital role in supporting wellbeing, social connection and cultural understanding. This workshop offers an inclusive entry point into flamenco, removing financial and social barriers while encouraging shared experience and creative engagement.

As part of Hidden Beach (HB), the session reflects a wider commitment to culture as something people do together — accessible, welcoming and rooted in community.