Dancing in the furnace: Seville's flamenco hit by extreme heat

Seville’s flamenco stages have become a furnace as a heatwave grips Spain, forcing dancers to push through severe conditions.

Under hot lights and heavy costumes, performers say the art form’s trademark intensity is becoming harder to sustain amid the heat.

“The final moments are the hardest,” said dancer Matilde Medo, 25, after a show. “Flamenco dancing is pretty intense cardio … it’s tough when it’s hot,” she told Reuters on Monday (June 22).

Temperatures have surged past 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, with Spain’s weather agency Aemet warning highs could reach 44 degrees Celsius in Córdoba and Jaén.

Flamenco is thought to have originated from Seville in Andalusia, where dancers say the rising temperature is now an added adversary while air conditioning poses a challenge for singers’ throats.

“The heat affects me a lot. Like I said, air conditioning is my number one enemy… I have to wait outside and go straight onto the stage to sing, because otherwise I’ll lose my voice,” said Juan Reina.

With each stamp, spin and crescendo unfolding against a backdrop of sweltering air, the performers say every show is as much a test of resilience as artistry.

Camera: Mariano Valladolid, Production: Silvio Castellanos, Mariano Valladolid, Editing: Elena Rodriguez, Silvio Castellanos/Reuters