‘Enramblao’ by Rafael Amargo. Special Feature

The cadaver of ‘Poet in New York’

S.C. Madrid, June 2004
Photos: Daniel Muñoz

Fresh in from Tokyo and Paris, Rafael Amargo is preparing the summer season. He has landed with his company at Madrid's Alcázar Theater, where he will perform beginning on May 27th, 2004. The Granada-born bailaor and choreographer presents “the extended version of ‘Enramblao’, a show we already presented as the first part of ‘El Amor Brujo’ in Barcelona”. And he premieres two new pieces: “The tango taranto ‘Bajo el puente’ and the bulería ‘Fuego’, since I wanted to give the work a more flamenco accent; I feel like it and I know people are going to like it more with that touch of strength”. The artist defines this new show as “the cadaver of ‘Poeta en Nueva York’ (‘Poet in New York’), since it's like more ‘oscuro’, darker”.

Rafael Amargo in 'Enramblao'

‘Enramblao’ “is inspired in Barcelona's Rambla or Madrid's Preciados Street or Paris' Montmartre, any place where the art coming out on the street is very visible”. Included in the show is break dancing, tap dancing... and those “other things that happen, those states of mind such as prostitution, transformism, markets, solitary music, living statues”.

All of it coexists in the show, but without fusion. “That word makes me shudder. Each artform is great, rich and unique in itself; this is a celebration, a healthy exchange”. And he makes it clear that with it, he is “expressing what I feel right now; I'm having fun while practicing the profession of dancing. The day I don't do so, I'll stop dancing”. In short, he judges that it is the work “which comes the closest to what I want to tell as an artist at this stage in my life”.

He has help to do so. On the one hand, he is surrounded by a dance corps made up of eight dancers plus a guest dancer, Esther Jurado, lent by the Spanish National Ballet. Joining them are breakers Fran Fernández and Alberto Prado; and the Lombard twins, tap dancers who Rafael Amargo will produce a show for. The music is partly live, since “I want to fight for that value, for live music to be on stages”. And it is done by “a band with flamenco training” figuring in which, among others, are guitarists Flavio Rodrigues (musical director) and Camarón de Pitita, cantaores Maite Maya, María Carmona, Enrique Pantoja and María la Coneja, violinist David Moreira and box drum player Antonio Maya. There is also packaged music such as ‘Sevillanas de la vida’ by Paco Ortega, ‘De María a María... con sus dolores’ by María Jiménez, ‘Ne me quitte pas’ in Paloma Berganza's version, ‘Agua’ by Edith Salazar...

Music and dancing are complemented on stage with the audiovisuals directed by Juan Estelrich, just like in ‘Poet in New York’. “They're conceptual shows, footage wrapping up the choreography and supporting what is happening on stage. For the bulería there's fire, for the taranto tango there's footage of a crosswalk... I look for textures that help the dancing”. Moreover, there is a piece with a plot, a silent short film in black and white telling a story at Barcelona's Bullring in 1916.

Throughout this season there could be surprises in Madrid. “I'll start off with ‘Enramblao’, but since I'm so restless, some day or another I might decide to recover ‘Poeta en Nueva York’ or ‘El amor brujo’... with prior notice”. We will have to pay attention and see what happens at the Alcázar Theater, which for the time being will be taken over by street artforms.

Flamenco, break dance and tap dance in 'Enramblao'

Rafael Amargo with Lombard twins

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