There are many specific song forms in Flamenco: solea, rumba, seguiyiras, seville, bulerias, etc, etc,...each one of these song forms contain a specific "compas".
Within this 12 beat cycle we have "accented" beats. these would be the equivilant of "down" beats in western music. A common compas is to accent beats 3, 6, 8, 10, & 12 of the 12 beat cycle. Count from 1-12 and clap on the aforementioned beats (3 6 8 10 12), this is the basis for flamenco.
So, to use another analogy: Flamenco without "compas" is like Latin music without "clave", technically it is not that music, but only in the "style" of.
I recommend checking out any of Paco de Lucias recordings with the sextext, it blows away the stuff he did with John and Al. The anthology cd's are a good place to start.