A chorus of olé, whistles and a standing ovation met the performance of the Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre on Nov. 17 at the Raven's Cry Theatre.
The Vancouver group spiced up the stage with five dancers including choreographer and artistic director Kasandra La China, singer Pirouz de Caspio and a guitarist, Gerardo Alcala, who alone was worth the price of admission. (Alcala led a guitar workshop the next day at the Coast Academy of Dance. Hopefully, he inspired local musicians.) His almost prehensile fingers draped around the guitar while he plucked the strings with the left hand on the fandango solos. De Caspio's haunting voice was joined by several of the dancers for some numbers, particularly the talented Stephanie Pedraza.
The biggest attraction was the dancers themselves who, in their full length, ruffled gowns and chattering shoes, delivered performances of great fire and beauty. Among the highlights were the numbers "Garrotin" in which La China wore a jaunty gaucho hat and danced a lively and flirtatious step, and the vigour of dancer Michelle Harding, who stamped out her anger and dared anyone to stop her. The three dancers in "Tangos por Fiesta" each offered a good example of how seductive is the power of flamenco. The result was pure passion.
At an earlier information session and demonstration at the Gumboot in Roberts Creek, La China told the crowd that flamenco actually began in India and was carried to the Andalusia region of Spain by the gypsies or Roma. It's not to be confused with Spanish dancing - the women with the castanets - as flamenco is the authentic music and dance of the area. La China demonstrated to the Creek audience how to clap in a flamenco 12 beat; it was surprisingly difficult. Though the music has been "assaulted by modernity," as La China said, and sometimes shows traces of jazz or bossanova, the art form is actually improvisational in its best moments.
The show was brought to the Coast by former flamenco dancer Robert Benaroya of Caravan World Rhythms. On Dec. 15, Caravan presents The Paperboys, a festive seasonal celebration that promises to be a fun, energetic party with one of Canada's top Celtic-folk-pop fusion bands. Tickets are $20.
Caravan continues into January with Puro Son, a hot Cuban evening on Jan. 19 at Roberts Creek Hall, and a mixed dance, spoken word and multi-media program with Alison Denham and The Tomorrow Col-lective on Jan. 25 and 26 at Gibsons Heritage Play-house. For more, see www.caravanbc.com.
