Back to the lovely Swan by the Severn in Worcester. Thankfully intact in spite of last summers storms, which flooded the entire city centre but left the theatre with only marginal damage in the basement. The shows went on.
This was our fifth performance at the Swan since 2001, and was as well-managed as ever. Thanks to technicians Matt and Emma, and all the front of house staff for loving their work.
‘POWERFUL GRACE and DYNAMIC RHYTHM’ by Megan Millar-McKeever for Remotegoat
Passion, drama, and hot summer nights. These are the things that come to mind when one thinks of flamenco dancing. What Flamenco Express added to this list of attributes was grace, strength and humour. If you have never been exposed to flamenco dancing before seeing this company perform is a great place to start, and if you are a connoisseur then you are guaranteed to have an enjoyable evening.
This small company, comprised of four dancers and four musicians, created a dynamic performance last Thursday night at the LABAN Theatre. The female dancers began the evening with a vibrant group piece, followed by a series of solo performances. Their steps provided a rhythm for the music created by the sweet sounds of the acoustic guitarists and the rough vocals of the singers. Through the performance the music built in speed and intensity seducing the listener while the dancers captivated with their powerful grace.
The impression the performers left on the audience was apparent as members of the audience rose to their feet applauding and children tapped away in the isles in an attempt to mimic what they had just seen. If you love dance, Spain or listening to a wicked acoustic guitar this show is a definite must see. I had a fantastic time and would recommend it to anyone.
Remotegoat. 2008
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Thanks as usual to Faye and the crew at The Bonnie Bird Theatre.
The Devonshire Park Theatre is a Grade II listed building designed by Henry Currey. It was built in 1884 and further improved by celebrated Theatre Architect Frank Matcham in 1903.
Attendance: 460.
Stage crew - excellent. Front of House - excellent. Stage - slightly more rake than flamenco likes, but not too bad and otherwise a sound tablao. Acoustics - fabulous.
Company: Ana de los Reyes. Mateo Solea, La Joaquina, Gemma de la Cruz, Rosa de Las heras, Chris Mullett, Jesus Alvarez.
Rosa waiting her call. Corn exchange, Bedford. 23/11/07
© flamenco express 2007
‘Bedford Art-icle’.
www.articlemagazinebedford.org.uk
The first time I saw a Flamenco dance troop was in 1995 in a small crowded bar in Barcelona. There were only four in the company; a singer, a guitarist and male and female dancers. They sang, played and danced for an hour and a half without a break. The atmosphere in the confines of the bar was hot, steamy and intimate. The performance was done with vigour, artistry and passion, faces contorted with expression, communicating all the anguish, pain, joy and other emotions of the story. Performers and audience alike with beads of sweat dripping from the forehead, down the sides of the face and off the ends of noses and chins. Indeed, the singer was almost crying. It was electric.
Upon reflection I concluded that Flamenco is far more than just a dance. It is a way of life.
My second outing was some years later in the sterile atmosphere of a large concert hall in Munich. The performance inevitably succumbed to the atmosphere of the hall. Technically superb, but sterile.
Flamenco Express laid out their credentials immediately with the opening number which involved the entire company. They trooped onto the floor and commenced without introduction. The powerful voice of Ana de los Reyes boomed out across the rows of an expectant Bedford audience. The flowing skirts of the dancers, the staccato strumming of the guitar, the rhythmical clapping and the sharp, high speed tap, tap tapping of the feet brought it all flooding back.
With eyes closed the performance evoked all the memories and emotion of that bar in Barcelona. The performers doing well to counter the somewhat flat atmosphere of the Corn Exchange. Even without the heat, the intimacy and the sweat, Flamenco Express were never-the-less, as far as I was concerned, the real deal. Highly recommended.
© Manoj Gupta 2007
