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You can book tickets at the ticket office outside the Real Escuela in Jerez from 9.30am weekdays. We suggest you get there early to do so. (We do not make reservations!)

Sitting proudly in the centre of the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the famous Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre draws millions of visitors each year. The spectacle held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (at 12pm noon) "How Andalusian Horses Dance" is very popular, but you can attend training sessions on other days (Mon, Wed, Fri) for a cheap ticket and see the whole complex in all its majesty. The training sessions are between 10am and 1pm.

We recommend sherry and tapas after the show at a tabalo or bodega.

tablao

On Fridays and/or Saturdays there is flamenco guitar and song in an informal atmosphere of flamenco and sherry at the Peña Flamenca La Zua (in the Barbadillo district of Jerez)

The equestrian centre is built around the Recreo de las Cadenas Palace, itself an amazing 19th century baroque-style building designed by Charles Garnier (he also designed the Paris Opera.)

The shows are held in the 1600 seat arena. After a disco style burst with laser lights, the distinctive tones of flamenco guitar take over and some ten riders dressed in 18th century country costume make their entrance. Then the impressive equestrian ballet begins.

D Alvaro Domecq Romero

statue in the gardens

These choreographed dances are based on both classical (doma clasica) and country dressage (doma vaquera), as well as other specialised riding techniques. For example the horses would gallop around the ring making sudden changes of rhythm and spin tightly pivotting on a circle around their hind legs, all apparently in time with the music. This is the canter pirouette.

The most spectacular part was the execution of high leaps with legs kicking out, known as a capriole. The horses at times did resemble dancers, especially with the technique called piaffe, where the horse trots on the spot and picks its legs up in diagonal pairs.

This picture was taken one night in Jerez (end sept 2001) at the culmination of a flamenco concert under the stars. The horse and dancer created their own nexus through flamenco movements, the horse stamping out rhythms (using the piaffe technique on cobbled stones) while she mesmerised both horse and rider with flowing arm movements and gyrating hips. Of course the crowd loved it!

WEG 2002

World Equestrian Games 2002

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera organised a day's explanatory course about the disciplines in the WEG.

Spanish riding products

Riding jackets

The Andalusian Horses and Riding Shop - for all your needs.

Buy your flamenco style hats and bolero style jackets through our riding shop - competitive prices and authentic equipment!

bullfighting poster prints

matador and bulls

flamenco

Dance! Bookings taken for the exciting and authentic flamenco show and meal in Jerez town center. The show starts at 10pm so best to book for a meal at 9pm.

Add shipping/handling on all items - please email to order and for payment instructions. We will need your full shipping address. You can pay by credit card through secure server on line. Prices are quoted in Euros, but you can choose to pay in USD or GBPounds with updated currency exchange rates.

© flamencoshop.com 2006

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We do not make reservations for the Royal Equestrian School - please go there directly in Jerez to book on the day