The language of the body is a central text in the study of flamenco on the global stage. From the records of the Inquisition, to 16th century literature, to European travel diaries, the Spanish dancer beguiles and fascinates. The word flamenco evokes the body of a sensuous and rebellious woman-the bailaora-whose lascivious movements seduce the audience, only to reject their invasive gaze with a stomp of defiance. The flamenco dancer's body is an agent of ideological resistance, conveying a desire for subjectivity and autonomy and implying deeply held ideas about history, national identity, femininity and masculinity. This collection of new essays by flamenco historians, critics and cultural theorists provides an overview of flamenco scholarship, illuminating flamenco's narrative and addressing some of the stereotypes that exist in flamenco studies. The contributors bring new information into flamenco's chronology, offer fresh perspectives on age-old themes and suggest new paradigms for flamenco as a cultural practice.