A man stands tall, silhouetted against the lights, rhythmically and hypnotically strumming a tambourine, as he summons his fellow performers out on stage with the mesmerising beat.
They arrive, dancers and musicians alike, and take a seat along the back of the stage. All except for two – the female flamenco dancers who stand erect and emit a fierce grace as they wait to begin.
Wearing head-to-toe black, the draped fabrics swirl around their bodies as their limbs move elegantly in rapid formation and their feet tap at a maniacal pace. Dancer Francesca 'La Chica' Grima direct from Spain is joined by Australian dancer Simone Pope and together they created a magical space on stage, that was filled with laughter, joyful movement, proud poses and woven together with a fiery spirit.
Backed by singer Olayo Jimenez and percussionist Andrej Vujicic from Spain and singer Clara Domingo, guitarist Kieren Ray and violinist Shenton Gregory from Australia, the two dancers shared the flamenco art form in all it’s varieties. From seductive sensual pieces that were filled with sexual tension to heart-wrenching traditional songs which evoked intense feelings from the audience, these two women provided a way to enter a different world.
The stage was low-lit and filled with a warm orange glow, the props were minimal and the dialogue non-existent. But the show flowed, it moved, it shook and it swayed. There were solo performances by Olaya Jimenez whose soulful singing transported you to Spain in an instant and it was clear to see, his life is lived through his song. In the encore, each musician broke loose and improvised for a few minutes each, joking around and clapping and cheering. The show felt friendly, and from the outside looking in, it seemed the performers were just going with the flow, following the lead of whoever was in charge in that moment.
It was astonishing to see how much control the dancers had over their movements and how much passion, joy, sadness and anger could be communicated so effortlessly. Flamenco truly feels like an art form and one that we unfortunately don’t get to experience as often many would like. See this show, but be aware you will want to instantly go out and book a holiday in Spain.
‘Viva Sevilla – The Golden Age of Flamenco!’ plays Queensland Performing Arts Centre until 6 February.
