The origins of flamenco are unclear, but historians believe the iconic Spanish dance style was born in Andalusia during the Renaissance. At first a kind of unaccompanied singing, flamenco evolved as the performers added guitars and then rhythmic hand clapping and foot stomping to complement the songs.

In an innovative creative climate where flamenco coexists with story ballet, Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel falls on the more conservative side of the artistic spectrum. The exciting four-year-old company performed a pure flamenco program of generic styles (buleria, farruca) Saturday at the George Mason University Center for the Arts.