Traditional Dances in Spain

Goal of Research: To conduct a bibliometric analysis on traditional dances in Spain, focusing on organizing the data academically.
Sample Size: N=224 articles published between 2012 and 2022, indexed in Web of Science.
Design and Tools Used: Ex post facto retrospective design and frequency analysis using Microsoft Excel.
Findings:
- Dominance of first-order documents in article format, primarily in Spanish.
- Flamenco identified as the most mentioned genre, with 'dance' as the most prevalent area.
- 2020 was the most productive year; 2017 yielded the most citations.
- Notable journals: Música Oral del Sur and La Madrugá for publication quantity; Leisure Studies for citations.
- Noteworthy authors: Vargas-Macias, A. (most prolific) and Matteucci, X. (most cited).
Significance: This study serves as a foundation for future research on traditional dances in Spain.

Cultural Importance: The extensive cultural heritage of Spain highlights its various traditional dances, which are integral to education from primary to university levels in music and physical education.
Need for Research: Given the vast existing literature, this study categorizes and classifies available information, aiding teacher documentation and training (cited works: Baena-Chinchón, 2016; et al.).
Previous Studies: Recent notable studies include:
- Zhang et al. (2022) analyzed flamenco literature from major search engines (1982-2021).
- Pastor and Morales (2021) reviewed Portuguese traditional dance didactics.
Scope Limitation: This study focuses solely on Spanish dances and narrows its research to the Web of Science for relevance.

Positive Effects: Studies indicate advantages of movement and motor coordination on human beings (cited works include Aguilar et al., 2021; et al.).
Neuromotricity Evidence: Increasing evidence supporting positive outcomes from foundational and intervention studies with control groups (cited works include Alonso-Marco & Romero-Naranjo, 2022; et al.).

Integration in Education: Traditional dances are included in curricula across three primary educational laws (LOE, 2006; LOMCE, 2013; LOMLOE, 2020), indicating their recognized importance despite limited classroom reflection due to teacher training inadequacies.

Terminological Differences: Contrary to some languages, Spanish differentiates between "danza" (more restrained, ceremonial movements) and "baile" (energetic gestures), reflecting class and cultural distinctions.
Definitions:
- Dance: Described as an universal activity expressing emotions and sometimes carrying ritualistic significance (Diccionario de música española e hispanoamericana, Casares, 1999).
- Baile: Associated with 17th-century stage genres, including courtly and popular arrangements, emphasizing lively movements.
Continuum of Meanings: Dance can mean both generic expressions and specific forms, necessitating contextual clarifications within articles.

Nomenclature Debates: Discussion over appropriate labeling in scholarly contexts, where folk dances are typically defined as community-developed expressions without choreographer intervention (Craine & Mackrell, 2000).
Historical Context: The term 'folk' emerged reflecting a divide between rural and urban classes, preserving customs linked to national identity (Buckland, 1983; Friedland, 1998).
Spanish Dance vs. Traditional Dances: Spanish dance as a professional ballet discipline consists of four specialties: escuela bolera, flamenco, folclore, and danza estilizada (Suárez et al., 2020).

Interdisciplinary Approaches: The collection reflects various perspectives on Spanish traditional dances. 70 of 224 documents focus primarily on dance, with significant contributions from history, ethnomusicology, pedagogy, and anthropology.

Study Design: A total of 224 documents spanning 2012-2022 selected from the Web of Science.

Key Resources: Primarily using Web of Science for data collection and analysis, supplemented by Refworks for references and Microsoft Excel for frequency data organization.

Search Strategy: Utilized Boolean operators and keywords relating to dances in a Spanish context, ensuring comprehensive coverage,
Language and Accessibility: While documents in other languages exist, Spanish and English dominate, highlighting the communication barrier inherent in dance scholarship.

Publication Trends: Document production peaked in 2015 and again in 2020, with variations in citation longevity not corresponding directly to publication peaks.
Citations Overview: 354 citations noted, with specific trends linked to the type and order of documents.
Document Type Distribution: Majority constitute first-order articles, implicating strong subject relevance.

Interdisciplinary Relevance: Emphasize continued exploration of traditional dances, with flamenco standing out due to both its rich cultural heritage and ongoing scholarly interest.
Future Considerations: Potential for impactful studies focusing on educational integration and traditional dance's role in tourism, particularly with cultural shifts.

A detailed citation list of key sources used in the research, indicating critical perspectives and foundational texts within the field.