Types of Flamenco Skirts

There are broadly two types of flamenco skirts, these being Performance flamenco skirts and Practice flamenco skirts. Performance skirts, which are suitable for dance performances, tend to be made of more expensive material and have a more impressive look, due to the quantity and quality of material used. Practices skirts are usually more casual, lighter and are suitable for day-to-day flamenco practice sessions.

As far as differences in design are concerned, performance flamenco skirts tend to come in many patterns and layers of fabric. Common designs consist of one or more layers of colored fabric with single coloured or polka-dotted ruffles. Practice skirts tend to be single coloured with a plainer design. The most popular colours are black and red. However, it is very common to find a large variety of colours, patterns and designs as the choice depends on the dancer’s personal taste and preference.

Cost of Flamenco Skirts

Flamenco skirt prices can vary significantly and heavily depend on the quality and quantity of material used and the production method. Handmade skirts from Spain made of viscose

Viscose

Viscose is a viscous organic liquid used to make rayon and cellophane. Viscose is becoming synonymous with rayon, a soft material commonly used in shirts, shorts, coats, jackets, and other outer wear.-Manufacture:...

 and koshibo are considered to be the most suitable for flamenco dance. Some popular brands are Flamencista and RdeRaphael . Flamenco dancers also tend to resort to individual tailors to have their skirts made for them.

For more cost-effective options, ready-made flamenco skirts are available. These are made of lower quality material such as nylon

Nylon

Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...

. However, it is important not to confuse genuine flamenco skirts with “flamenco-style” skirts. The former are made of material suitable for dancing. In contrast, the latter tend only to mimic the design of the dancing skirts but their material renders them more suitable for fancy dress but totally unsuitable for dancing.