Theatres, Johannesburg

Sexy, fiery and passionate Spanish traditional flamenco dance at The Fringe is a celebration of womanly glory.

One of the first 'real' pieces of music I ever learned to play on the piano was a Spanish dance. I worked hard on that piece. It was my recital piece and I executed it there, probably in every sense of the word 'executed'. When I got home, there on my bed was a Spanish dancer doll, slightly smaller than a Barbie doll. I wasn't much of a doll child, but with her dark skin and red dress she was the most beautiful doll in the world. She lived, together with my jewellery box with its delicate ballerina, on my bookcase. Life was good.

I was in high school and one of the girls who did Spanish dancing performed on the school stage. In class she was simply Michelle, a somewhat pudgy girl without much allure. On stage she was one of the most beautiful creatures on earth, swaying sensuously and rhythmically, bringing my doll to life. I fell in love with Spanish dancing.

For me every Spanish dancing show is a trip back into childhood happiness. Lunares is El Rincon Flamenco Dance Company's 2012 show. I went through to a rehearsal of the company on Tuesday evening. Joane Bobrow points out to me that the word “Lunares” means “spots” or “circles”, highlighting the visual element of flamenco dancing, the spotted materials which so often make up the costuming. Certainly even the practice costumes, for this is not a dress rehearsal, are stunningly beautiful. The richly embroidered Spanish shawl each dancer twists and winds around her has been on my “I want” list nearly forever and the fans are lovely.

The dancing is not the Fusion Flamenca of their 2010 production, but the beautiful traditional dance with all its colourful fire and passion. Together the all female ensemble, directed and choreographed by Mireille Lenferna and Joanne Bobrow, capture not only the essence and spirit of flamenco dancing, but all the joyful and tragic moments in the life of a woman, leaving one feeling intensely alive. Mireille Lenferna and I discuss the beauty of Spanish dance as it favours the more mature dancer, not that any of the women in the company have reached that point quite yet, the youngest being only twenty two while the two choreographers are both only in their late thirties. The ability to interpret pain and suffering as well as happiness and success is key to the richness of a dance tradition where dance is for every occasion, sometimes just for oneself, and at other times for a lover, for a husband, for a child or for the community.

Guest artist Alexandra Le Maitre, formerly of the Ritmo Spanish Dance Company joins the eight members of El Rincon Flamenco Dance Company on stage, as does the guitar duo, Mischief (Rudo van Staden and Andre Liebenberg as they undertake their journey through womanhood at The Fringe, Joburg Theatre from 24 to 27 May 2012. Tickets are available from the theatre and are R130.00 each.

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