The Diligentia Theatre in the heart of The Hague is usually the home of stand-up comedy but last night was the venue for the spectacular We Call it Flamenco, a touring show that brings this exciting Spanish music and dance to towns and cities that normally would not have access to it.
Performed by two dancers, a singer and a guitarist, with the aid of a couple of chairs on a rose covered stage, this small intimate performance makes the audience feel that they are sipping rioja and nibbling on tapas in a dimly lit, smoky basement in downtown Madrid rather than the formal surroundings of a conventional theatre.
The show, directed by María Farelo and Cristian Pérez, was created and is produced by Fever with the aim of making flamenco’s rich heritage accessible to all. This spectacular one-hour show, which flew by much too quickly, introduced us to six of the fifty flamenco styles.
Flamenco is considered part of the general Spanish culture and made its appearance during the second half of the 19th century in the area that roughly corresponds to the region of Andalusia. It is a genre of music and an associated dance originating from the southern provinces of Spain. Characteristic of this form of music are the sometimes Arabic-sounding sounds, the exuberant musical embellishments around the theme and the strong rhythm within a twelve-verse system. Hand clapping and castanets are always much in evidence. If you are not familiar with this form We Call it Flamenco is guaranteed to enthral and excite you and have you stamping your feet and shouting olé all the way home.
Fever produces several popular touring events aimed at the mass market with shows such as classical ballet and candlelight evenings to the music of Vivaldi, Coldplay and Abba. So, one of their shows is always going to be at a venue near you. Michael Hasted 21st October 2024
We Call It Flamenco continues on tour until 22nd November
