Regarded as one of the foremost exponents of flamenco dance, Luis Davila “Luisllo” is visiting Taipei with a program of dance set to some of the most representatively Spanish of classical music, namely Ravel’s Bolero, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espanol and Bizet’s Carmen.
The troupe has also toured extensively around the world. According to Lin Keng (林耕) director of Fuego Fantastico (迷火佛朗明歌舞坊), a local flamenco group, the kind of dance practiced by Luisllo is “danza Espanola,” which is a variation on traditional flamenco, incorporates numerous classical dance and ballet elements.
‘Many Spanish people find that this is more beautiful,” Lin said “ and the movements are more difficult, but for non-native flamenco practitioners [in Taiwan], it lacks power and earthiness.
Traditional flamenco is based on the dancer, a guitarist and a singer. “Danza Espanola,” which has been practiced in Spain for over 50 years, makes use of classical music (often recorded), thereby focusing attention on the dancer. In addition, elements of story are introduced, most distinctively in the case of Carmen.
Luisillo, who formed his own dance company in 1962, has had the distinction of performing in the Clementine Room of the Vatican before Pope Paul IV, the first dance performance to be given inside the Vatican in more than 400 years. This is the troupes third visit to Taiwan.
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