The passion and intensity of Andalusian flamenco comes to the Hawkes Bay Arts Festival this month.
Roshanne Wijeyeratne of Alma Flamenco Photo: Roshanne Wijeyeratne and Alma Flamenco
Dancer Roshanne Wijeyeratne and her company Alma Flamenco will perform their show Ida Y Vuelta; the title translates as “There and Back” and references the way travellers have brought new influences to flamenco.
The show is a mashup of traditional flamenco, Argentinian tango, Afro Cuban music and rhythm, and Cuban-influenced dance. The performers come from India, Australia, Venezuela, Spain.
Ida Y Vuelta dancers:fringe award winners at Adelaide Festival 2019 Photo: Ida Y Vuelta
Roshanne tells David Morriss that a big part of her love for the dance form is because of the way it is partially improvised, so you never quite know what’s going to happen next, which gives it a wonderful intensity.
Many different cultural influences have gone into the development of the art of flamenco; there are some who claim that the Spanish gypsies were influenced by Indian music, as well as Jewish music, and Arabic.
And she says Flamenco is something that anyone can do, if they put in the practice – young or old, and any body-type – it’s all about life, and communication.
