glimpse into Grahamastown productions

SENTIMIENTOS AT NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
LA ROSA SPANISH DANCE THEATRE
Written by Mike Loewe

Wild flamenco dancing to live guitar brings out fury and elation in Sentimientos

Swirling skirts, castanets and a passionate display of Flamenco dancing, rhythms and sounds -- and with the backing of live Flamenco guitar!

This is what National Arts Festival audiences can look forward to in Sentimientos.

This is dance at its most dynamic and is directed by La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre’s founder Carolyn Holden. Holden says: “We explore the broad spectrum of human emotions, ranging from fury to elation.” Holden is well known in the arts for her bold concepts and innovative choreographic approach.

In Sentimientos, she drew from a variety of influences and created a visual feast that combines traditional flamenco and a contemporary flare. The dancers are exquisitely costumed by Dicky Longhurst and the production showcases choreography by Madrid-based choreographers Joaquin Ruiz and La Truco.

World-music is the inspiration behind the onstage band. Bienyameen plays Flamenco guitar, Robert Davids is on Cajon, Robert Jeffery plays guitar and cello, Brydon Bolton is on double bass, Christopher Jeffery on violin and there are the haunting vocals of Loreán Swartz.

Flamenco is the structured expression of raw emotions. On one extreme, the deep songs - jondo - convey a cry, a lament or a protest; at the other extreme, the light songs – chico - are a celebration, often tongue-in-cheek and usually with a hint of satire. The middle songs – intermedio - are the narrative, recounting event and episodes. These bubbling currents of universal human emotion flow through Sentimientos, sweeping on the audience in an emotional journey.

La Rosa was founded in 1990 as a platform for students of Spanish dance to perform their chosen art form at a professional level. Continuous and increasingly frequent performances in and around Cape Town, and at arts and dance festivals across the country, have established the company as one of the foremost exponents of this dance discipline.

La Rosa has been involved in outreach and development initiatives since 1997 focusing on making flamenco accessible to the youth, developing the artistic and technical skills of potential professionals and audiences across the broader socio-economic spectrum.