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Ballet Nacional de España Festival Theatre, Until Sat 13 March Ballet Nacional de España is the flagship of the Spanish dance armada and it was loaded with flamenco, flamenco and flamenco squared - lots of variations that would please the aficionados. One would expect the company to showcase the national style and this was done with gusto in the first piece by Antonio Canales. ‘Grito’ was performed by nearly twenty dancers but featured terrific solos and small groups. The men in traditionally styled hip-hugging pants and short jackets had lightning upper body movement and thunderous staccato steps finished with graceful hand gestures. The machismo of the men was both contrasted and complemented by the women who alternatively flirt then flaunt their sexuality. With live music on stage, vocals reflecting the Muslim influence in Spanish culture, rhythmic clapping and sexual attitude, the theatre was filled with Spain. Unfortunately nothing else in the evening matched the opening and none of the subsequent flamenco styles were as stirring. The final work performed after intermission was José Granero’s ‘Medea.’ The tragedy is set in a Spanish village during the celebrations associated with a traditional wedding. Performed once again entirely in the flamenco style, this abbreviated version of the Greek classic was mere melodrama with exaggerated and unconvincing emotive elements. After the groom had a union with the femme fatale on the eve of the wedding, she gets a caning from the groom’s father in the presence of some very excited men. The symbolic vengeance rape must be associated with traditional Spain as I don’t recall this from the Greek myth. Except for costume design in the first number, costume, lighting and set design were bland and repetitive - and you certainly won’t see anything other than flamenco. Oddly, while the cultural handcuffs were on with respect to dance style, the narrative element was an unimaginatively transposed classic from elsewhere. Those of you who enjoy the eclectic and inventive dance narratives of Graham Murphy, Leigh Warren, ADT or Australian Ballet may find this show disappointing.  |
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