reviews
15 September 2005
Ricardo Garcia’s Flamenco Flow
Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright)
Sept. 17 10:30 PM, Sept. 18 6:00 PM
Flamenco music and dance have a large following in Vancouver and the close to sold out house proved this. Flamenco Flow was excellent: Garcia is a musical madman on the guitar and his expertise in flamenco-style playing was mind-blowing, plus if the applause from the audience were any indication, everyone present felt honoured to be there. I quite like the current trend in flamenco that fearlessly combines other styles and rhythms into its framework. Billed as “an unprecedented blend of cultures,” the show lives up to its hype. Of course, no flamenco show would be complete without dancers! But don’t go expecting “just” flamenco dance… because you’ll also be blessed with a very talented hip hop dancer. What the hell? Hip hop and flamenco dance? I know, it sounds like a bad Spanish version of Riverdance but, incredibly, it works. I was inspired by the successful integration of the forms and you should go see this. The encore is masterful.
JENNIFER FLYE