Malevo, Peacock Theatre review ★★★★★

The Argentine malambo is a very macho dance that combines flamenco zapateado with indigenous and African moves. The all-male company Malevo uses it as the basis for a stage spectacular, where 13 dancers strut their stuff backed by four on-stage musicians: percussion, violin, guitar and bandoneon.

This high-testosterone show is loosely divided into three parts, each of which showcases one of the key elements of malambo: intricate, dizzyingly fast zapateado; local drums known as' bombos'; and ‘boleadoras’, hunting weapons of the Gauchos, that consist of a small rock wrapped in leather hanging from the end of three thin ropes.


The men come on in relays: Cuban heels, tight black pants, oiled bare chests across which they hold narrow bombos. With perfect coordination, they drum away in concert, their sticks hitting the skin or sides of the drum or, in coordinated moves, the bombo of the man standing next to each of them.This is where making music meets dancing. It’s an exotic, exciting opening to the show.

Suddenly the atmosphere changes. The drummers melt into the darkness of the wings and we’re left with one man standing in a pool of light centre stage.

He starts dancing, his feet pounding a rhythmic crescendo that combines techniques from flamenco zapateado and paso doble, with Malevo’s own embellishments, including landing on the side of the foot, in a move that threatens to turn his ankle (but never does).

It’s dizzying, dazzling and breathtaking, and becomes even more so when the man is joined by the rest of the company. Later in the show, they do a similar dance on bare feet, the tapping sound different, of course, but the stomping skill unaltered.

The most thrilling section of the show is the one involving the boleadoras, which they swing through the air so fast that they create the illusion of shimmering circles. Here coordination is essential – these are, after all, lethal weapons…

There are interludes where the musicians are allowed to display their skill, with guitar and bandoneon recalling the unalloyed sounds of Argentina.

Founded and directed by Matias Jaime, Malevo first came to prominence in the US talent show America’s Got Talent; and has since collaborated with the likes of Cirque du Soleil and Ricky Martin.

And here’s the thing: their performances are probably more effective in smaller doses. For all the talent and unwavering energy Malevo put into it, the show currently at the Peacock is undoubtedly often exhilarating, but doesn’t have enough variety to sustain its unbroken 90 minutes.