Swirling skirts, castanets and a passionate display of Flamenco dancing, rhythms and sounds are what audiences have come to expect from La Rosa and Celebración Flamenca is no exception.
The production is directed by Carolyn Holden who founded the organisation in 1990. In Celebración Flamenca, Holden has restaged established repertoire in a new creative context, resulting in a visual feast of contemporary flamenco. The production features choreography by Holden and by the Madrid-based choreographers Joaquin Ruiz, La Truco, Domingo Ortega and the late Javier Cruz, and features the cream of La Rosa's dancers accompanied by a musical ensemble including Flamenco guitarist Bienyameen, Robert Jeffery (of the rock group Flat Stanley) on guitar and cello, Heather Roth on flute, Robert Davids and Nkosinathi Figlan on cajón, accompanied by South Africa's own cantaora, Loreán Swartz on vocals.
La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre is a platform for students of Spanish dance to perform their chosen art form on a regular basis and at a professional level via the company. The organisation has been involved in education and skills-development initiatives since 1997, focusing on making flamenco accessible to the young, developing the artistic and technical skills of potential professionals and growing audiences across the broader socio-economic spectrum. Flamenco was recently acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Intangible Heritage.
Performances run from Tuesdays to Saturdays at On Broadway at 44 Long Street from 18 to 29 January at 8.30pm. Tickets cost R95 via Computicket or 083 915 8000. For more information, call +27 (0)21 461 4201. www.larosa.co.za
