The stomping feet of the dancers mesmerized the full house that came to watch the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid perform “Carmen on opening night. With only a black backdrop, there were few distractions – except for the latecomers – to divert the audience’s attention from the fast footwork and the colorful costumes of the dancers.
Set in Seville, “Carmen was not an unexpected choice for the Spanish dance troupe.
What was unexpected was the interesting fusion of George Bizet’s French opera and classical ballet interspersed with traditional cante (song) and the flamenco.
Hands down, the live trio performing the cante, the essence of the flamenco dance, won the audience over. The raw melodies of the guitar and the powerful, rhythmic drumming were only enhanced the passion of the vocals.
Of course, Bizet’s music wasn’t given a fair chance. A poor quality recording of the heartfelt arias which would have ordinarily transfixed audiences, paled in comparison to the live trio performing the cante.
The operatic scenes were, it seemed, used to unravel Carmen’s tale. Which would explain the dramatic quality of the movements and the dancers’ exaggerated expressions.
But after the rawness of the flamenco scenes, and the crescendo of pounding feet that leave you almost as breathless as the dancers, the abrupt transition to the slower melodic opera felt disjointed.
Derived from a folkloric culture with its guttural tones, flamenco feels uninhibited. In sharp contrast, the opera and classical movements feel more learned and disciplined. Each has its own beauty, but together it felt that the audience was being subjected to an emotional tug-o-war.
Fusion confusion aside, the performance was a great opportunity to enjoy the art of flamenco dance.
The palmas (rhythmic clapping), the powerful and evocative vocals, entrance you as you follow the rapid stopping of the dancer’s feet. At the end of each scene you’re left as breathless as the performers.
Catch the final performance tonight at the Cairo Opera House, Main Hall, before the troupe heads on to the Alexandria Opera House on Sunday.
