ABC, Seville Edition 27-09-08-MARTA CARRASCO
Real artists are those strange beings that shake at the idea of going on stage, but in the end can't live without it. An artist whose Art is dancing suffers in this same way, but what makes it even worse is that they have to use their bodies to express what others do with words or music.
One day María Pagés found herself with one of the great dance myths, Mijail Baryshnikov, who asked her to create an intimate performance in which she should paint her own portrait, expressing herself just ass she feels she is - in this way, after giving it much thought, "Selfportrait" was born; last night was the début of the show in Spain, in the Teatro de la Maestranza (Seville).
Pagés's work, up till now, has made us used to the use of stage design, luminosity and elements such as paintings or videos as being important parts of each performance, but the simplicity of "Selfportrait" will surprise us. Like a minimalist painter, Maria Pagés has eliminated from the stage any element that she feels could disturb this intimate story she is telling us, her dance is telling us the story of the state of her soul.
From this moment on, the feelings of this dancer are expressed with no hesitations: the many manifestations of Flamenco dance, farruca, debla, martinete, tientos, tangos, alegrías, cantinas.... thus sharing with us her home, which is this part of the world where she is now; Flamenco is Maria's way of expressing her team work and studies; by dancing "alegrias" , she expresses the joys of the stage.
María Pagés would not be what she is without making some concessions to the other important factors in her life: poetry, her son and her sense of humour. To honour the first factor, poetry, she takes the beautiful poem written by José Saramago "Ergo a Rose" (which she danced for him in Lanzarote). Here she dances to the sound of the Portuguese Nobel Prize writer's voice, reciting his poem. For the second, her son, she created "Nanas de la Cebolla" (Onion Lullabies) when he was still a child; today she dedicates this dance to the adolescent university student, although he will always be a child to her. Finally, a homage to her sense of humour: she dances to the rhythm of "tanguillos", with her castanets in her hands and reciting an amusing text describing the situations that arise when a dance company arrives at an airport and the usual ups and downs of a tour.
There has been en evolution in Maria Pagés's dance. Her scenic sensuality is evident, but there are magic moments, such as her dance with a "mantón" (Spanish shawl) that she moves in a spectacular way; her "Soleá", elegant, measured, authentically from Seville. Maria Pagés is already an icon for a generation that is reaching the summit, a generation that is logically gradually substituting those that are on the way out.
A magnificent cast, an outstanding José Barrios, beautiful costume design and a convincing backdrop are the other cards she has in her hand. This woman from Seville gave us a sincere portrait of her land.
