When Raúl Mannola, the talented guitarist at Capital Fringe Festival’s Flamencodanza, says that with the Soleá style of Flamenco, you never know what you’re going to get, well, it’s a foregone conclusion. Out of the roughly 60-minute performance, we only experienced about 20 minutes of dancing, which left me expecting more. It is advisable to keep your expectations in check because out of the six most commonly used Flamenco instruments—cajón, castanets, palmas (hand clapping), cante (singing)—only two are featured: la guitarra (the guitar) and zapateao (shoes). While this combination of guitar and dance can convey the deepest emotions and intense movements of Flamenco, I must say those emotions, if present, were too subtle to notice.
Perhaps Mannola, also the composer, was aware of this, because about 15 minutes into the show, he pauses to inform the audience that his next guitar solos would have Afro-Brazilian influences, followed by “blues” with a “dark mood.” The essence of Flamenco, in my opinion, is to show rather than tell; we are meant to feel those emotions, not be told what to feel. In this regard, I believe this international duo has something to learn from Authentic Flamenco, whose delightful, captivating, and passionate performance in DC last year, featuring Yolanda Osuna and the Royal Opera of Madrid at the Howard Theatre, still has me enthralled.
Aylin Bayaz dazzles in a flowing blue satin dress with lace at the back and bottom. When her bedazzled sleeves catch the light, she sparkles, especially when she reappears in a large yellow scarf with fringes. Her arm and body movements are smooth and sultry. The most captivating moments occur when the guitar suddenly transitions into fast and precise strumming, matching the sound of Bayaz’s shoes rapidly hitting the floor. Bayaz’s dancing was one of the most anticipated moments, and I wished there had been more of it. Mannola’s 40 minutes of guitar solos were also enjoyable and thus not tedious to wait out.
Perhaps this production could be better titled A Taste of Flamenco to avoid overselling (not in monetary terms, since it only cost $15, but in terms of expectations) and under delivering.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Genre: Dance
Dates and Times:
- July 20 at 1:00 PM
- July 21 at 6:40 PM
Venue: Cafritz Hall, 1529 16th St NW
Tickets: $15
More Info and Tickets: Flamencodanza
The complete 2024 Capital Fringe Festival schedule is online here.