Andrew Veivers sets off on a cultural journey with Flamenco Fire. Source: Supplied
At QPAC next month.Using dance, song and music as a loose narrative, Veivers re-stages the gypsy journey with a cast of 11 from around the world, including Spanish dancers Sebastian Sanchez and Francesca "La Chica" and her partner flamenco percussionist Andrej Vujicic.
Gypsy Pathways will chart their journey from northern India in the 11th century featuring Indian kathak dancer/singer Sulagna Basu and her teenage son Arka "Tito" Basu, a tabla player.
It was when Veivers performed at the Woodford Folk Festival with Sulagna Basu more than a decade ago that he first decided to do a show exploring the gypsy journey.
Veivers says it is "an absolute miracle" the Romany culture remained largely intact during the several centuries it took to journey to Europe - especially when flamenco relied on a verbal heritage. There is still a clear link between flamenco and Indian kathak music despite the 800-year separation.
"The style of dance, the way stories are interpreted, the costumes and the actual role of the music in the culture is really similar, despite 800 years of social change and geographical isolation," he says.
"The picture postcard of the classical flamenco with the dress and guitar only really dates from Saville in the mid-19th century. From the 1400s and even through a lot of the 20th century flamenco was not celebrated in Spain, but it was illegal and hidden away because the Catholic church made a decree that people could not perform."
The other performers in Gypsy Pathways include dancers Simone Pope and Natalie Slect, guitarist Kieren Ray, violinist Shenton Gregory and singer James Paul.
"With all our flamenco shows there is a whole gamut of emotions, flamenco is always so vivid, really heart-wrenching and there is exuberant colour and dance and flamboyance," Veivers says. "There is extreme contrast from extreme loud and soft, a full energy and driving rhythms all on acoustic instruments with no trickery.
Flamenco Dance Costumes - News
There is still a clear link between flamenco and Indian kathak music despite the 800-year separation. "The style of dance, the way stories are interpreted, the costumes and the actual role of the music in the culture is really similar,
Komaiko said the concerts will include classical, folkloric and flamenco dances, with everything from 19th-century court dances to a Mexican-Indian dance performed with poles to the company's smoldering flamenco rendition of Ravel's "Bolero.
Cathy's group number is a flamenco inspired piece with what looks like 25-year-olds dancing with six-year-old Vivi-Anne. Poor Vivi has to dance like she wants a puppy, and a scratch on her finger from where her mom's ring snagged her.
With the addition of flamenco, ballet and modern tap to the already strong show of Irish dancing, the production offers plenty to dance aficionados, and musical theatre enthusiasts alike. But while the actual performances are fine,
was the question I kept facing in the run-up to my first attempt at belly dancing. That and people bandying around the words “video” and “YouTube sensation”. So, as I got to the fitness studio at the Cambridge YMCA, stripped off my socks and firmly