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Salome with castanets

Aida Gomez brings passion to the stage in Carlos Saura's flamenco version of Salome. PHOTO COURTESY OF KUANG HONG ARTS

Blasphemy abounds in Oscar Wilde's adaptation of the biblical character Salome. Using the sensual movements of flamenco and the themes of lust, it should be a hot night.

Beginning tomorrow afternoon, Aida Gomez Theater Dance Company brings Carlos Saura's flamenco adaptation of Salome to Taipei for three performances at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.

The tale of the young temptress has been adapted for theater, ballet, opera and most recently, flamenco. It's text has been read by film celebrities, Dianne Weist, Marisa Tomei and Al Pacino, but few have gained the popularity of the Spanish dance version starring Aida Gomez in the lead role.

"Salome epitomizes the woman who craves the attention of those that show indifference. She wants the impossible," wrote Gomez in a summary description of her character.

The story begins with a tragedy -- the suicide of a young captain who is driven to his death by Salome's lack of interest in him, thus foreshadowing the extremes men will go to, in order to win her affection.

She is the daughter of Herodias, widow of King Herod's brother. Having lost her husband, Herodias remarries to the king, making him both uncle and stepfather to Salome. Their relation, however, does not stop him from lusting after her.

Salome's one desire and greatest challenge is to seduce the prophet, John the Baptist. Having devoted his life to God, John has no use for Salome or her seductive ways. Tormented by his lack of interest in her, she promises to dance for the king if he will kill John and deliver his head on a silver plate.

The themes of sexual lust and desire escalate until they climax in the final dance, performed by Gomez. "In this play on desire and passion, dance provides the thread with which the darkest of all passions is woven, that of death. Leaving aside biblical references and the work of Oscar Wilde, Salome finds in Spanish dance one of the greatest expressions of the symbolic legend of Salome," she said.

Gomez has a notable list of accomplishments, including becoming the principal dancer of the Spanish National Ballet

Company at age 17 and its artistic director only three years later -- the youngest to date. In 1997 she founded her own company under the direction of Carlos Saura, who produced the film version of Salome.

A renowned Spanish filmmaker, Saura has won several awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film for his 1979 release, Mama Cumple 100 Anios (Mom Turns 100). He is best known outside of Europe for his rendering of dance genre films that include Flamenco (1985) Tango (1998) and Carmen (1983), among others. His staging of Salome blends music, dance and theater to elucidate the biblical story in an art-filled performance.

The show begins this weekend in Taipei and moves next week to various venues around the country. Tickets are still available in all locations but, according to a representative with Kuang Hong Arts, they are moving quickly.

Performance notes:

What: Aida Gomez Flamenco Dance Company presents Carlos Saura Atares's flamenco dance version of Salome

When: Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2:30pm with Saturday evening performance at 7:30pm

Where: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館) located at 505 Renai Rd, Sec 4, Taipei (仁愛路4段505號)

Tickets:NT$400-2,500 available on line at www.kham.com.tw or by calling Kham ticket service at (07) 740 1526.

Dates around the island: Nov. 3: 7:30pm at Hsinchu Municipal Auditorium (新竹市立演藝廳)

Nov. 6: 7:30pm at Kaohsiung Performance Arts Hall (高雄至德堂)

Nov. 9: 7:30pm at Taichung Zhongshang Hall (台中中山堂)

All tickets range in price from NT$400 to NT$2000, and are available through Kham Arts.
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