Wild, Untamed Flamenco Set for London's Peacock Theatre in ZIK'R Opening Tonight

East meets West in ZIK'R, the sensational new flamenco fusion show created by, and starring, Karen Ruimy and Killing Joke bassist Youth, the show traces flamenco's journey from India to Spain. The show is coming to The Peacock, Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT, with press night slated for today, 14 June 2016.

The original music fuses elements of Indian, Moroccan and flamenco along with remixes from Groove Armada, Marc Mac (4 Hero) and Monsieur Adi to create an atmospheric and exuberant score performed live at the Peacock Theatre. ZIK'R is a unique fusion - east meets west and classical meets club in a show that mixes the wild intensity of flamenco with a splash of the exotic.

Following sold out UK performances last year, ZIK'R now returns reworked and newly expanded. Set alight by spectacular and passionate flamenco, ZIK'R is at the Peacock Theatre for five performances only.

ZIK'R seamlessly blends traditional instruments with exciting electronic elements and the energising fusion performance is set alight by spectacular, powerful flamenco dance. Having begun life in India at the World Sufi Spirit Festival, ZIK'R has played several celebrated UK dates including the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and now returns to London's home of dance, Sadler's Wells, where it plays at The Peacock as a reworked and newly expanded piece from Tuesday 14 June 2016.

A story of exile, passion and survival, the music tells a tale of the pain of separation and the agony of the soul.

Sufi and Flamenco have been intertwined as part of a centuries-long journey. As traders made their way from India through the Middle East and North Africa and into Southern Spain, so flamenco absorbed the vibrant traditions of the places where it rested, pulling together the strands of cross-cultural musical practices to become a uniquely impassioned and inspiring art form.

Ruimy has performed all over the world with acclaimed shows at the Folies Bergère in Paris and Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. A celebrated spiritual writer Karen has published The Angels Metamorphosis and The Voice of an Angel with Quartet Books. An accomplished singer and musician in 2010 Karen's first album Essence de Femme featured songs created for her Paris shows. 2013's Come with Me, brought together Rai (Moroccan Arabic music) with pop and dance beats. Come with Me was also remixed by dance DJ Paul Oakenfold. Collaborative releases with Youth, ZIK'R East and ZIK'R West followed last year.

One of the UK's most influential producers, Youth has worked with bands including The Verve, Paul McCartney, Crowded House and Pink Floyd whose 2014 release The Endless River topped the charts. His contribution to the music industry was this year recognised as he was named recipient of the Music Producer's Guild 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Onstage Ruimy and Youth will be accompanied by Michael Rendall (Keyboards/MD), Lola Rueda (Vocals/Dancer), Ash Mukherjee (Khatak Dancer), Gerry Diver (Violin and Multi-instrumentalist), Kuljit Bhamra (Indian Tabla) with Demi Garcia (Cajon and Percussion). Jose Almarcha (Guitar), Pedro Obregon (Singer), El Trini de la Isla (Singer) and dancers Francisco Hidalgo and complete the ensemble.

Les Child, previously of the Michael Clark Company, film, fashion show and high end magazine shoot choreographer is Stage Director.

Karen Ruimy says; "For me the blend of spiritual music and Flamenco is a natural and most magical place in which to perform." Youth continues, "Sufi music for me is soul music. What I love about it most is the ambition to achieve ecstatic transcendence through music and dance."

For more, go to karenruimy.com/live.

IF YOU GO:

ZIK'R
Tuesday 14 - Saturday 18 June 2016
Press Night: Tuesday 14 June
Venue: The Peacock
Ticket Prices: £15 - £35
Booking: (T) 020 7863 8222 | www.peacocktheatre.com

Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance house, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding, the theatre's acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Since 2005 it has helped to bring over 90 new dance works to the stage and its award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour internationally. Sadler's Wells supports 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and an Associate Company and nurtures the next generation of talent through hosting the National Youth Dance Company, its Summer University programme, Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates.

Located in Islington, north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler's Wells.

Sadler's Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 10% of its revenue from Arts Council England.

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