MERCEDES RUIZ @ SADLERS WELLS

Mercedes Ruiz' fiery charm and intimacy leave her audience spellbound
by Judy Frankl
Image

First an admission. I am not a flamenco expert, indeed I know very little about this distinctive Spanish art form. But from the moment Mercedes Ruiz appeared on stage, with her back to the audience, and began clicking her fingers, she held my complete attention.

There was no set, no gimmicks, no jazzing it up or pushing the boundaries. Just traditional flamenco, brilliantly performed. Ruiz snapped her fingers, stamped her feet, played the castanets, twirled her shawl and danced with intensity, yet joy, sometimes still and introvert, and at other times like a whirling dervish.

The show is called Déjame que te baile, or Let me dance for you, and that’s what Ruiz did. She danced for the audience, her gaze and wide smile directed for the most part at us. But she was also dancing for and with her musicians, improvising rhythms and creating a conversation.

Special mention must go to the wonderful guitarist, Santiago Lara, as well as the two singers, David Lagos and David Carpio, who duetted with Ruiz and sang solo, in very different styles. Lagos had the more melodious tones, while Carpio’s idiosyncratic voice reminded me of a muezzin’s call to prayer - I  got the sentiment, but sadly not the words.  

At the end, all the musicians, including the clappers and percussionist, took it in turns to play the guitar and show off their dance moves.  Ruiz urged them on, but ultimately, it was she who was the dancing queen. The audience went wild.  

Flamecno Festival carries on at Sadlers Wells until Feb 26. info and tickets here

Related Articles

Image
Estevez/Paños y Compañía
ESTÉVEZ / PAÑOS Y COMPAÑÍA wow audiences at Sadler’s Wells

The Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells is lit up again with ‘La Confluencia,’ an adventurous new work created by dancer/…

Image
Israel Galvan- Sadler's Wells
"Transforming one body into another’"

Flamenco's experimental bailaor extraordinaire, Israel Galván, will be mesmerising audiences at Sadler’s Wells for two…

Image
Things That Matter To...Pablo Egea

Winning last year's LUKAS for Outstanding Male Dance Performer, Pablo Egea captured Londoners' attention after spotting…

Latest Content

Image
Laura Rios Diaz
Arts and Culture
Women by Women: Changing Photography For The Better

Showing at the OXO Gallery to mark International Women’s Day, ActionAid’s new exhibition Women by…

Image
REAS 2024 1
Film & Theatre
'REAS' by Lola Arias

“I see beyond the wall”...Having its UK premiere at the BFI Flare 2024 Festival, Argentine cinema…

Image
lisa
Society and Politics
LATIN LONDONER #50: LISA LUGO, SVP Marketing & Creative Solutions Live…

Born and bred a true Nuyorican, after working at Live Nation in the US, Lisa Lugo moved to the UK…

Most Viewed

Image
Top 10 Argentine Footballers

As one of the biggest football teams in South America and the world, the Argentine Football…

Image
Ballads and Boleros
Top Ten Mexican Male Singers of all Time

Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality…

Image
Top 10 Mexican Boxers

Globally, Mexico is known as a boxing powerhouse, boasting some of the greatest champions in the…