In 1950s Barcelona, Zaira, a Romani flamenco dancer, has lost the spark of her art. Backstage, an enigmatic magical creature, the personification of her flamenco duende, throws fleeting musical notes at her, but she fails to reach them. Exhausted, the duende leaves the tablao. Determined to win it back, Zaira wanders across Barcelona, a hostile city for the Romani community at the time, until she reaches Somorrostro beach, where the music still beats.