According to Navarro García’s description of the gypsy settlement in the Sacromonte quarter of Granada, "Halfway through the 18th Century the Monte Sacro gypsy became an exotic attraction for numerous Romantic Travellers, along with the caves and the prickly pear trees that lined the pathways…The gypsies made a living from the alms that they were given and probably from performing thier songs and dances as well…".
Foreign visitors greatly admired the organized dances that took place in the 19th Century in the Sacromonte and remarked on the “strange melodies”, the passionate strumming of the guitars and the entrancing graceful movements made by the female flamenco dancers.
These performances put on for tourists came to be known as “zambras”. According to experts, these gatherings were similar to the ancient Moorish zambras. The human components are the same: the dancers, the musicians, the rhythmic clapping and the cheering on of the performers. The zambras are family orientated with different family members taking part. The figurehead of the group would be the “capitan” (man or woman) who would give the group its name.
The ‘zambras’ lined the Sacromonte pathway and the most notable one was the headed by María Gracia Cortés Campos in about 1870. Shortly after came Juan Amaya’s zambra, followed by many more. The zambras were havens for these artists and the name ‘zambra’ defines both the place and the actual performance. Tourists still trek up to the Sacromonte quarter to experience these magical zambras for themselves.
