BALLET NACIONAL DE ESPAÑA, ‘LA LEYENDA’. REVIEW AND PHOTOS

Invoking the legend

S.C. Madrid, April 2005

Ballet Nacional de España, ‘La Leyenda’. Original concept and choreography: José Antonio. Music written and performed by: José Antonio Rodríguez. Guest ballet dancers: Úrsula López, Elena Algado and Miguel A. Corbacho. Dance troupe: Ballet Nacional de España. Teatro de la Zarzuela. Madrid (Spain), 22nd April 2005. 8pm.

'La Leyenda', by Ballet Nacional de España (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Carmen Amaya continues to inspire. José Antonio has transported the production ‘La Leyenda’ from the Compañía Andaluza de Danza, the entity that he directed between 1997 and 2004. The show, originally premièred in its cut-down version at the 2002 Festival Bienal de Sevilla, is presented now as part of the repertoire of the Spanish National Ballet Company, which he now directs. This 'legend' shares a double billing alongside ‘Aires de villa y corte’, for performances at Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela between the 22nd April and 3rd May. Their run at the theater situated behind the capital's courthouses will also allow them to perform the new production ‘El Loco’ before Madrid audiences again, from 4th to 8th May.

In the wake of the classical naivety of ‘Aires de villa y corte’, ‘La Leyenda’ summons up the temperament of one of the legends of flamenco. Given the impossibility of imitating her, and only too aware of the ease of falling into the trap of caricature, she is remembered above all with mere sensations. There are also some more tangible details, like the wardrobe or those gestures so reminiscent of her - like the one where she seems almost ready to charge with her elbows behind her head and her hands crossed clicking her fingers in front of her face.

Úrsula López and Elena Algado (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

The show revolves around the duality that, according to the director, Carmen Amaya struggled with - the stage forming the boundary between her two selves. The show features guest ballerinas Úrsula López and Elena Algado, who recently starred in Andrés Marín's ‘Asimetrías’. They both deliver impeccable performances, both solo and together, coming truly close to the legend herself. They give an outstanding performance in ‘Embrujo del fandango’ with castanets, as well as in the pas de deux with a scent of tangos, and the truly flamenco alegrías performed in a trouser suit. But above all else, the most striking piece is the closing number - a seguiriya performed in contrasting traditional flamenco 'bata de cola' dresses: one white and the other black. The white one managed by Úrsula López is four meters long - it would be a sin not to use it for the poster. The aesthetic brilliance is guaranteed. The links are performed by the company's numerous dance troupe, and see José Antonio applying dynamic, colorful sketches with a very ‘Gades-like’ flavor, with recurrent motifs used by the group, becoming a little weary as the performance becomes less flamenco.

José Antonio Rodríguez performs the music live; music that he also composed specifically for this production, and that is available on the album of the same name ‘La Leyenda’. The guitarist from Córdoba recorded these pieces accompanied on vocals by Rafael de Utrera, whose broken voice gave intensity to numbers like the male trio's soleá (danced in the form of a farruca), well-received by the audience. All contribute to the brilliance of the company that is ambassador for Spanish and flamenco dance around the globe. And of this tribute to the legendary bailaora who, in exile during the war, offered her golden years of performance to American audiences.

magazine@flamenco-world.com