The Flamenco festival at Sadlers Wells in London is designed to show how the form can reinvent itself without losing those features that are its essence. “Sombras”, (the Spanish for shadows) the show that launched the festival, has reinvention in spades. It is to be seen in all departments, most notably the music where the traditional guitars are supplemented by wind instruments - saxophone, flute and harmonica - and percussion with the addition of the afro-peruvian cajon. This not only adds force to the inherent percussive effects of the ‘zapateo’ which is at the heart of flamenco dancing and which is exemplified to great effect by Sara Baras and her fellow dancers, but adds a new dimension to the sound, as if John Coltrane and Astor Piazzola had joined the band.
But it is not just the music that has developed in new and unexpected ways. Visually, the show benefits from extremely imaginative use of lighting, not only to produce the effect of shadows, but to highlight the message conveyed by the music and dance in all the numbers. Add to that, the attention it draws to the dresses of the female dancers which are used to amplify the expressive movements of the body and gestures of the arms.
it also needs to be said that, with this group of dancers, the difference between male and female is reduced, so much so that, when the curtain goes up on “Sombras” it is impossible to tell if the figures on the stage are male or female. They are just shadows. They have been dancing a full five minutes in the penumbra before the lighting reveals the beards sworn by half the dancers. Flamenco traditionally flaunts the sensuous movement of the female and the macho aggression of the male . It does not disappear altogether but is no longer the overt feature of the flamenco form.
These are the features that differentiate Sara Baras’ show from the flamenco we have seen before and are familiar with. One can only applaud because, although it may not be to every traditionalists’ taste, the quality of the music, the lighting and the design is all outstanding. The synchronisation of these elements with the dance is perfect.
Lately, it only remains to say that the overall quality of the dance, in particular the ensemble work, is brilliant and truly merited the enthusiastic applause the wonderful house that is Sadlers Wells. It has set the benchmark very high for the remaining performances of this season which continues until 14 July.
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