Flamenco Festival London 2015: Sadler's Wells

Flounces, floor-stamping, deep song and above all indomitable passion combine in Andalucia’s unique art form, the flamenco. Spanish it may be, but its appeal extends far and wide, which explains the unqualified success of Sadler’s Wells' annual Flamenco Festival, now in its 12^th year.
For two weeks a variety of Flamenco performers will display their artistry inviting audiences to share their passion – on two occasions literally, as there will be two post-show dance classes for the braver and more enthusiastic punters (see Sidebar for details).
This year’s selection of seven companies will range from the very classical flamenco to the more experimental; and include full companies as well as smaller-scale outfits.
We publish the full list in the Sidebar, and in this preview provide a closer look at just some of the performers.
If your preference is for the very traditional flamenco, with large casts of musicians and dancers complete with colourful flouncy dresses and mantillas, then you have an obvious choice of two companies: Ballet Nacional de España and Ballet Flamenco de Andalucia.
Ballet Nacional de España fills the stage with its 35 dancers plus musicians and singers; and under its new director, Antonio Najarro, blends tradition with a more cutting edge approach to both music and dance. Guaranteed to have the audience clapping and crying for more!
Ballet Flamenco de Andalucia is one of the foremost exponents of flamenco in Spain. Under the direction of the multi-award winning Rafaela Carrasco, this year’s show is a commemoration of the company’s 20 years of life bringing together some of its more representative numbers. Large-scale flamenco doesn’t get much more authentic than this.
If your preference is for small-scale, more intimate – but not less exciting – performances, then we recommend Eva Yerbabuena, a firm Festival favourite. Hailed by the Evening Standard as exposing “a beauty in flamenco I doubt any had believed could exist,” Yerbabuena brings back her hugely exciting show Ay! Very much recommended.
The renowned guitar master Gerardo Núñez is famous for his cross-cultural collaborations. A virtuoso player, he blends traditional flamenco with jazz and Latin-inspired rhythms. Add to that the electrifying performances of the gypsy dancer Carmen Cortés and you’re in for a very special treat.
Whichever show you choose you’re certain to come out a happier and sunnier person than when you went in. Which, in the depths of the northern Winter, is no mean feat…

For more Latin flavour, read our Tango Fire preview.