BY KAREN BOSSICK
Flamenco has always been considered sensuous. But sexy, scandalous and shocking?
Barcelona Flamenco Ballet promises all three when it performs the show “Luxuria” at The Argyros this week. The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for those 25 and under at https://theargyros.org
The eye-catching show will combine traditional and contemporary flamenco dance as it tells the story of a man who is facing a number of conflicts in his life. A successful artist, he has the eye of countless ladies but he finds himself bewildered when he encounters the greatest love his life.
He meets her through a singular glance but finds he cannot purely love her easily because lust is blocking his true feelings for her from coming to the forefront. Instead, he is plagued by self-doubt, pride, ambition and, ultimately, loneliness.
“In this show the root of flamenco predominates but we present a suggestive staging that is cataloged as ‘The New Flamenco’ that fuses different types of dance such as contemporary, Jazz and ballet,” said David Guiterrez, who doubles as dancer and manager. “We will transport you to a piece of our Spain. You will be able to enjoy the guitar, voice, clapping, tapping.”
Luxuria stands out for its pioneering flamenco ballet style.
“Lust is, of course, an extraordinarily fascinating theme, and Flamenco Ballet seems as if it is the most perfect medium through which to portray this in the inherent passion, despair and tragedy within this particular artistic form,” said Gutierrez. “We cannot forget that as humans in society, we immediately relate the idea of lust to the concept of a type of sexual desire that is so intense that it is almost overflowing. This mindset is expertly conveyed through this flamenco ballet ‘Luxurîa,’ which is evidently the Latin root of ‘lust’, in the passionate states through which the dancers and musicians perform their art.”
Founded in 2017, Barcelona Flamenco Ballet is now recognized as one of the main dance companies in Europe and the world. The performance at The Argyros will field four artists from Spain: Jordi Centeno on guitar, Joel de Pepa on vocals and dancers Paula Reyes and David Gutierrez.
“It is a young company, which has achieved great success in the main theaters around the world,” said Gutierrez. “I started in flamenco dance when I was only 4 years old. In Spain it is a tradition, it is a hobby that we usually do after going to school. I decided to dance because I saw the dance and I was passionate about it. With the passage of time, I trained as a professional to be able to be running this company.”
Gutierrez said the performers are excited to perform in Sun Valley.
“We are very excited to visit your city. It is the first time that we are going to be performing in Idaho country, and the reception we are receiving from your people is being very special.”