Ballet Flamenco Jesús Carmona, Impetus Review ★★★★★

Jesús Carmona is a former Principal with Ballet Nacional de España, who went on to form is own company with the aim of showcasing the very best in Spanish culture.

In Impetus, a work Carmona has toured since 2015, he seeks to demonstrate his growth as an all-round artist by combining beautiful balletic sensitivity with bold and commanding flamenco footwork. The result is an impactful and charged evening enhanced by a flawless ensemble cast and live musicians making for a high point in Sadler's Wells 2018 Flamenco Festival.

Impetus adapts works from great Spanish composers Albéniz, Riqueni and Escudero. Choreographically it draws on the zapateado, the percussive footwork associated with traditional flamenco.

Carmona takes more of a backseat role in the early sequences, allowing his fellow cast members to shine. The sultry lighting and the intricate choreography of the wrists and hands bubbles up nicely, anticipating the high energy demands further down the line. Carmona himself is delicate and nuanced: his arms undulate and his pirouettes are graceful. He is every part the Principal Dancer.

These early sections utilise muted colour palettes, ashy greys and a black costume for Carmona complementing the mournful musical accompaniment for the full ensemble routines. The synchronised stamping of six impactful dancers comes as an early treat.

Ballet Flamenco Jesús Carmona, photo Beatrix Mexi Molnar

Before Impetus transforms into a pure flamenco showcase there are a number of enjoyable additions including Carmona’s partnering of Marta Gálvez for a unique pas de deux that is best described as a ballet-flamenco hybrid. Barefoot, Gálvez is wonderfully agile as she jetés and pirouettes in unison with the elegant Carmona.

As the cast are joined by vocalist Juan José Amador, proceedings take on a more traditional feel with the women now in traditional flamenco dress: long ruffled skirts in reds and oranges. The choreography shifts to more predictable fare.

Carmona, now sporting in a gold jacket, takes centre stage for an epic solo performance. How he channels his strength and energy for such a prolonged period is impressive. His cuban heels are a blur, yet the rhythms that ring out are clean and strong. His jumps are explosive and his musicality never falters; it’s a truly gripping watch.

Impetus is a fine full length work that builds tension and intrigue successfully thanks to a highly skilled cast and Carmona as the charismatic centrepiece to it all. It’s a sassy and stylish display that holds your attention in the early stages before demanding it in Carmona’s show stopping solo.