What Is Jaleo? Meaning in Flamenco, English and Spanish

Jaleo (hah-LAY-oh) is a Spanish noun that means “uproar.” In everyday Spanish, jaleo describes a commotion, racket or fuss, as in the common exclamation ¡Qué jaleo! (“What a commotion!”). In flamenco, it means the shouts, claps and calls of encouragement that performers and audience members give one another during a performance. It is an important part of the relationship between the performers, and between the performers and the audience.

¿Qué significa jaleo? (En español)

La palabra jaleo significa bullicio, alboroto o desorden. En el flamenco, el jaleo son los gritos, las palmas y las voces de ánimo con que los artistas y el público animan a quien está cantando, bailando o tocando.

What Do Flamenco Dancers Shout? Common Jaleos and Their Meanings

Here is a short list of appropriate jaleos to get you started. The best-known flamenco cry, ¡Olé! (also written Ole or Ale), is also the usual answer to crossword clues about a flamenco shout.

Jaleo is not random shouting. The calls are tailored to the discipline being showcased: Así se baila praises the dancer, Así se canta the singer and Así se toca the guitarist.

Jaleo Etiquette: When Should You Shout at a Flamenco Performance?

In the United States, most audiences sit quietly through a performance, flamenco or otherwise, and then clap and shout “bravo” at the end. In flamenco, it is customary to shout your bravos during the performance, clapping and becoming part of the show while it is going on. When the performance is over, it's just over: no clapping, no bravos.

Why? Because flamenco, as opposed to theatrical flamenco, is not really a performance but a communal activity connecting performers and audience. Everyone in the room is a participant, an unusual concept for many audiences.

At a recent local performance, a well-known flamenco artist visiting from Spain was in the audience and shouted out jaleos during the show. He was promptly escorted from the room for “creating a nuisance.” How embarrassing for him: he was simply following perfect flamenco custom!

Jaleos raise the excitement for everyone, especially the performers. Knowing they have reached the people in the room encourages them to put even more of themselves into the performance. So when you attend a flamenco performance, or perform yourself, shout some jaleos. It will raise the energy and make you a true part of the show.

Jaleo, Compás, Palmas and Pitos: How Jaleo Fits the Flamenco Structure

Jaleo is an integral part of the flamenco structure. These shouts of encouragement are often timed to the rhythm, or compás, of the music. The call-and-response is not limited to the voice: it also includes rhythmic hand-clapping (palmas), finger-snapping (pitos) and even foot-stomping from seated performers, all of which build the vibrant, electric atmosphere.

Watch and Listen: Jaleo in Performance

In the first video below, you will hear jaleo right from the beginning and throughout the performance. Around 2:00 the jaleos really get going. In the second video, you will see great dancing by masters of their craft and hear jaleos throughout.

Jaleo Advice for Performers

A word to the wise performer: always be nice to your fellow performers. It is nice to be nice just to be nice, but not being nice can reward you with some unexpected surprises, because jaleos can be a double-edged sword.

I remember a performance in which I was seated in the cuadro (the group of performers) while another dancer took her turn. She danced, and we did jaleos. However, earlier in the day she had been quite rude to another dancer, who happened to be from Sevilla. During the performance, the dancer from Sevilla gave some pretty “creative” (insulting) jaleos, and the audience, who understood Spanish, broke out laughing all through the performance of the dancer, who did not speak Spanish. What goes around comes around!

So jaleos can be a great addition to your performance tool kit. Don't be afraid to use them, and use them wisely!