Flamenco Festival 2024, Sadler's Wells

It's the time of year many of us look forward to with great anticipation, when regardless of what London's capricious whether inflicts on us, inside Sadler's Wells it's guaranteed to be warm and sunny, because the annual Flamenco Festival returns.

For a glorious fortnight, 11 acts will bring every shade of Andalucia's greatest export to London, from traditional company dancing represented by Ballet Nacional de España (12-15 June) to the subversive explorations of Rocio Molina (4 June).

The famed flamenco guitar music will be represented in an unmissable concert by the virtuoso Grammy Award-winning guitarist Vicente Amigo (5 June).


Vicente Amigo. Photo: Juan Perez Fajardo
Flamenco music will be also be represented by Israel Fernández, a singer described by Spain foremost daily El País as 'the voice that sings the present and the future of flamenco.' Fernández will present his latest album, Pura Sangre, in collaboration with guitarist Diego del Morao (9 June); while María José Llergo will present her own electronic and R 'n B infused flamenco in her own concert in the Lilian Baylis studio (15 June).

¡Fandango!, conceived by choreographer David Coria and singer David Lagos, brings a contemporary interpretation of this specific Andalusian genre, where history informs the present. It will be performed by a nine-strong company (10 June).

Sarah Jiménez's Ave de Plata is a one-woman cutting-edge exploration of life and death that combines dance and voice performed in the Lilian Baylis studio (14 June); whereas Alfonso Losa and Patricia Guerrero use flamenco as a medium to find each other in Alter Ego (6 June).

it's always good to welcome back veteran flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena.


Eva Yerbabuena. Photo: Marcos G Punto
She returns to the stage with Yerbagüena to reflect on her 20-year career, with her musical director, guitarist and husband, Paco Jarana, as well as two singers and two percussionists (7 - 8 June).

The LIlian Baylis studio hosts En este día en este mundo (work in progress), a performance by the two sisters Florencia Oz and Isadora O'Ryain billed as exploring the impact of modern life on our bodies and natural rhythms (15 June).

Last but not least, Culture Whisper favourite Manuel Liñán extends the festival into October his flamenco drag show ¡VIVA! a skilled, joyous journey through flamenco with a company of exceptional dancers all exploring their feminine side with feeling, humour and vitality. Peacock Theatre (17 -19 October). Read our review of ¡VIVA!'s first outing here.