Review: Celebrating Flamenco's Present and Future at the 2018 NEW YORK FLAMENCO FESTIVAL

Each year, the New York City Center along with other venues across New York City, have presented some of Spain's finest dancers and musicians to perform on major concert stages... Now in its 18th year, the 2018 New York Flamenco Festival has brought some of flamenco's biggest names to the New York area, for a celebration of flamenco's present and future- spanning the full spectrum of what is flamenco.

On the evening of March 9th, 2018, I had the opportunity to see Compañía Eva Yerbabuena at the New York City Center, under the artistic direction of internationally acclaimed Eva Yerbabuena.

Yerbabuena and her company celebrate their 20th anniversary with a new piece entitled Carne Y Hueso, which translates to "Flesh and Bone". Known for her technical dominance of the dance form, Yerbabuena offers a stripped down and honest revelation of the vulnerabilities that lie at the heart while showcasing the most powerful virtues of flamenco in a new evening-length work.

Accompanied by live music, the dance features eight distinct movements that highlights the true spirit of flamenco. Of course there are some staples of flamenco dance that can be seen such as stomps, claps, spins, and long arms. The piece also shows the marriage of the singing, music and dancing that makes up flamenco. There is also a level of dark and mysteriousness that can be seen on the stage that draws from the art form's roots in the gypsy culture.

What a spectacular performance! I loved the intricate footwork and the intensity of the movements. The precision in the choreography is just remarkable. The male dancers in the group are very talented. But I would be remiss if I did not talk about Yerbabuena's unforgettable performance. She brought about a different kind of energy that pushes the boundaries of flamenco in ways I have never seen! It was quite impressive to see her as she draws in the audience with her amazing talent and technique that goes far beyond what others before her have been able to do. Cheers, whistles, and shouts of "olé" could be heard throughout the audience, especially as the show came to a close with a standing ovation!

The 2018 New York Flamenco Festival continues now through March 24th with a range of dance and music performances on stages across the city such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Joe's Pub, and The Town Hall. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.flamencofestival.org.

Photo Credit: Daniel Perez

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