Day 37: Check Out "A Palo Seco: Rasgos Flamencos" Monday Night
If you're looking for something to do tomorrow night, January 31, head down to Theatre 80 Saint Marks for an 8pm performance of "A Palo Seco: Rasgos Flamencos". Located at 80 Saint Marks Place in Manhattan, tickets are $20 to $35. Contact the box office at 212-388-0388 or buy your tickets online here.
As a sequel to her critically acclaimed, sold-out debut at Theatre 80 Saint Marks in May, 2010, Rebeca Tomás, a fierce and feminine New York-based Flamenco artist, will return to the East Village venue January 28 to 31, 2011 with "A Palo Seco: Rasgos Flamencos," a new collection of Flamenco music and dance works with an innovative and edgy New York feel. Tomás and company, including two dancers, two singers and four musicians, will re-envision aspects of last season's production--which was entitled "A Palo Seco"--while introducing several new pieces, both traditional and unconventional.
The term "a palo seco" refers to two of Flamenco's most intimate yet opposing qualities: a deep emotional rawness and a groovy rhythmic playfulness. "Rasgos Flamencos," as a sequel to the original production, will be true to its namesake, presenting "typical characteristics or features of Flamenco." However, Tomás has a penchant for presenting some of these characteristic features in a not-so-typical format.
Jack Anderson, reviewing last season's "A Palo Seco" in The New York Theatre Wire, praised Tomás for both her innovativeness and her strength in traditional forms. "Tomás is seeking to develop flamenco in new ways...Experimental new works are welcome in every dance form; otherwise, that form stagnates. Tomás and her company know their flamenco, yet they're willing to play with its conventions."
The review by Gia Kourlas in The New York Times was headlined, "Making Flamenco Modern With Pain and Playfulness." Kourlas wrote, "Ms. Tomás was driven by a desire to give the art form a modern edge… she achieved sleek synchronization as three dancers passed up long ruffled skirts in favor of black pants- all the better for transforming their stomping feet into machine guns." Kourlas described Tomás as "slender, petite and in possession of sharp, articulate footwork." The review related how the evening's modern work, "Metamorphosis," began at the piano and ended in a dance of inner turmoil, creating "images full of pain and suffering," while later, Ms. Tomás's "delightful 'Alegrías' gave her something special, too: a chance to own the stage, with ample charm."
While last season's show contained such nontraditional touches as Tomás playing Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" at the piano and dancing a modern piece to music by Regina Spektor, this show will utilize different nontraditional elements. Ever innovative, Tomás has created a new solo work featuring the Spanish fan, el abanico, a traditional technique within Flamenco. Giving the prop a distinct touch by using it as a percussive instrument and a visual punctuation, she has choreographed an original composition that diverges from the conventions of Flamenco. Nevertheless, the piece stays true to the theme of the evening, "a palo seco," as it is performed with no musical accompaniment apart from percussion.
Fresh elements will also be seen in Tomás' final number, a new solo within the Flamenco style of Alegrias. This piece will be danced in the traditional Bata de Cola (long train dress) and will echo the evening's first solo by employing a fan at certain points in the dance. In addition, the group number, "Tangos," has been rearranged and new musical compositions will be debuted.
"A Palo Seco: Rasgos Flamencos" is conceived and directed by Rebeca Tomás. Artists appearing with her include dancers Sol "La Argentinita" and Laura Castellano, guitarist and musical director Pedro Cortés, bass player Sean Kupisz, violinist Alí Bello, percussionist Oscar Valero and singers David Castellano and Bárbara Martínez. Lighting design is by Stephen Petrilli. Sound design is by Alex Neumann. Some costumes for Ms. Tomás are contributed by Sally Lesser
"A Palo Seco: Rasgos Flamencos" is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
