Flamenco Festival at Sadler's Wells

Last week the annual Flamenco Festival was in full swing at Sadler's Wells so I had to visit. I first saw flamenco three years ago on a visit to Madrid and fell in love with it and wanted to see more. I had tickets to go in 2020 but that didn't happen so I was determined to visit last week. 

I had no idea which shows to book tickets for and didn't know the names of any of the choreographers or stars so I opted for Compania Jesus Carmona and Compania Maria Pages and I'm so glad I did. I don't speak Spanish so had no idea what the songs were about but flamenco is passion and love, sorrow and despair so I could guess what was going on. Flamenco is more that guitar and wailing vocals, more that foot stomping and majestic arm movements. Flamenco is life. 

Compania Jesus Cormona's piece was 'The Jump', an exploration of masculinity in the 21st Century. I didn't see the philosophical theories behind the piece but I saw madness and passion, pain and struggles. Jesus Carmona danced the lead with his all male dancers supporting and driving him on. There was also a male guitarist, percussionist and a singer. This was probably the modern dance version of flamenco, with the disciplines and techniques there but not the styles. Modern flamenco. 

Compania Maria Pages was a different kettle of fish with more traditional elements but brought up to date with her fabulous vision and choreography skills. And her amazing dancing! 'An Ode To Time' took us through different movements and styles with dramatic staging and lighting. With a five-piece band, two singers and eight dancers along with herself as the lead dancer, she transformed that stage. She certainly knows how to put on a show.

I loved the whole show but there were two movements I particularly liked. One was when castanets appeared in her hands and Maria gradually got faster and faster, swirling her arms around her body and up into the air only to descend, snakelike, around her body again, playing them faster and faster as she swirled and danced. It was an astonishing moment and I loved it. The other was when she danced with her large shawl, swirling it into the air to make shapes and then the four female dancers appeared with their own shawls to join in, so spectacular! It wasn't just the magnificent Maria who made the show, it was the whole company, and here they are.

I'm so pleased I went to the Flamenco Festival and I'll definitely go back again next year. There's so much to learn about flamenco.