Sevilla, the show performed by the María Pagés Dance Company, on until yesterday at the Liceo Theatre (Barcelona), is passionate, vital and of great beauty. This dancer and choreographer displays an immense range of techniques onstage. Her long sinuous arms encircle the secrets of thoroughbred dance, whilst her vital tap-dancing takes over the floor with extraordinary elegance. Pagés's dance is intelligent and mature, committed to her times, retaining the authenticity of her flamenco and at the same time bringing it astutely forward to modern days.
Sevilla is a homage to her home town, created in close collaboration with José María Sánchez, where Pagés's solos alternate with brilliant choral performances. She has excellent musicians and singers supporting her who are performing live, a stunningly elegant stage design and an original and contemporary wardrobe design. This all adds up to conclude that Sevilla is one of the best flamenco shows seen in Barcelona in the last years. The response shown by the audience at the end of the show is a clear indication of the degree of adrenalin felt by the spectator.
The evening begins with a waltz by Shostakovitch, that she dances in the bulerias genre. From that moment on, there is a succession of moments of genius. If I were to have to focus on a fragment of the show, it would be impossible not to mention the final dance. After the tango Volver by Gardel, interpreted by the whole company, Pagés transmits the beauty of the night in Sevilla dancing the Modugno song Nel blu dipinto di blu. There are no words to describe the beauty of the picture that Pagés paints with her solos and the rest of the company's performance, distilling the blue tones of the Sevillian nights.
All her appearances - be it with castanets, shawl or fan - conquered the audience, who, at the end of the show, clapped their hands rhythmically and tap danced, themselves becoming spontaneous members of the company.
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