The Ultimate Flamenco Dinner Show Experience

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 7:00pm, I attended my very first Flamenco performance. I loved the culture and passion that was introduced not only in the dance, but also in the music and the way that they performed. I especially liked how they were able to include the audience and transform the way that the viewers watched the performers.

Throughout the performance, there were a lot of dynamics within the music and choreography. Sometimes the dancers would use really slow counts while the music stayed with an upbeat tempo. With only two dancers (who performed one at a time) it was easy to tell the difference between rhythms, styles, teachings and techniques.

The sound utilized during the performance consists of a live guitarist. As he was playing, he was intently watching the performers’ movements and how they were keeping tempo. From what I could see, It seemed like he was watching what they were doing so it was easier for him to play at the right tempo.

Although the stage was small , it made the experience more inclusive and easier to pay attention to detail and how . I was close enough to see every foot and body movement. I could even see the way that the singer and guitar players were keeping tempo and performing. By the end of the performance the dancers started bringing up some of the audience members and taught us small choreography. The small stage used made this moment much more intimate and helped to connect the real cultural feeling and experience.

When each performer, had their chance on the stage you could tell how different their styles were. One of the performers had a rougher texture to her moves, while another was graceful. Within both of them, you could tell that they probably had training in other styles as well. For example, a lot of the movements were very similar to pirouettes ( a very classic and simple ballet step). As both of them danced, I loved watching the way that their faces expressed passion and emotion. For a majority of the dancing, one of the dancers did not even open her eyes until she stopped and was fully facing the audience.

All of the elements of the night complemented one another and came together perfectly. What caught my eye the most within the performance, are the costumes and changes that each of the performers acquired. I loved that they were able to play with their dresses and it showed a different side to the performers and their pieces. For the first half of the night both of the dancers were wearing all black and red. One of the dancers even had on a bright red scarf matched with shoes, which you could not see until she started playing with the dress and would lift it up during her turns. Both dresses were floor length dresses with ruffles on the bottom in a mermaid fashion. My favorite costume of the night came in the second half when they changed. One of the dancers changed into an all black piece, while the other had on lighter colors. They had once again changed into another floor length dress. The lighter dress was made of light pink lace that went all the way to her toes and through the ruffles. She wore a light flesh toned scarf, bright pink flower, and brought out a hot pink fan to accompany her choreography. The other dancer, who sang for a majority of the second half, wore a black dress with satin with layers underneath to the floor.

The scenography was another one of my favorite parts of the show. The lighting of the show was very mute, because they had one main spotlight on the stage and the rest of the room was filled with mood-lighting. I really enjoyed when she used her fan as a prop. It was a surprise because the dancer had the fan hidden within her dress and when she pulled it out, the colors brought a new experience to the dance.

In my opinion, seeing Flamenco was a rewarding experience. Not only because it was my first time, but also because I was able to try some of the choreography myself. It was really educational. From the unique costumes to the cultivating music the entire event was surely something I appreciated being a part of.

Overall, my favorite parts of the night were getting to try a new style and watch how much the dancers enjoyed their craft. There were no parts that I disliked about the performance (partially because I have never been able to see a dance like this in person before). Dancing is something that takes a long time to perfect and you could tell that the two seasoned dancers that performed before me on Saturday night have spent endless hours perfecting their craft so they could enjoy the fruits of their labor and share the love with those who watch their art.

So far, I have been able to see this show twice and loved it both times. The review you just read was after seeing it my first time. The Alegria Concina Latina in Long Beach, California holds the performances almost every weekend and I can't wait to go back.