This light and lively song and social dance has roots that extend deeply into many parts of Spanish culture. The dance exudes romanticism, and has a joyous, flirtatious air. Sevillanas first emerged as a distinct form in the late 18th Century as a variant of the Spanish song form seguidillas, appearing simultaneously with the Escuela Bolera, a formalized approach to studying and performing a variety of Spanish regional dances. By the 19th Century, the Sevillanas was an important form in the Escuela Bolera.

​The names of many of the steps in the Sevillanas (e.g., el paseo, la pasada, el zapateado, el careo, and las vueltas)are from Escuela Bolera practice. An important detail Sevillanas retains from the Escuela Bolera style is the pose the dancer takes at the end of each copla, known as bien parado, or “standing well.” Sevillanas was eventually folded into the flamenco repertoire, and in the process became aflamencada – “flamenco-ized.”  Because it is a partner dance, Sevillanas is often the only Spanish dance non-dancers have learned, contributing to it’s social role within Spanish-speaking and flamenco communities.  The Sevillanas is associated with El Rocio, an annual pilgrimage to a sacred shrine in the Coto Doñana. Many of the letras of the Sevillanas are associated with this and other religious subjects. Although Sevillanas have passed through various periods in the evolution of Spanish culture, it’s important to know that these facets of Spanish culture are still alive today, and that Sevillanas is very much a part of each of them.