Director and Choreographer: Patricia Guerrero
With a synchronicity and theatricality akin to musical theatre, Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía’s new show Tierra Bendita is predominantly an ensemble piece, a 13-strong dance troupe that is an extraordinary unit, clearly drilled and drilled until every stomping heel, every arm placement, every swishing skirt is exactly and precisely coordinated. Across 90 minutes of dance performance at the Sadler’s Wells annual Flamenco Festival, Tierra Bendita largely eschews traditional duets for a mix of exceptionally lively and classically mournful group pieces, although director and choreographer Patricia Guerrero ascends the stage herself for a climactic finale solo.
Divided into twelve chapters, separately featuring either the female or male performers, as well as bringing them together, Tierra Bendita is drawn from lots of different styles, all coherently and entertainingly woven together by Guerrero. This blend of expected and some more unexpected dance forms is innovative and enjoyable as the street and café culture of flamenco meets romantic ballet, narrative-led choreography, and, of course, musical theatre and film, with big set pieces that nod to influences as diverse as West Side Story and even Chicago as Guerrerro’s solo is preceded by a line of male dancers channelling Bob Fosse through their flamenco shaping.
As ever at the festival, plenty of space is given to the musicians with an especially notable performance from David Chupete on castanets entitled Encarnación, tapping out a hypnotic rhythm at considerable speed. Guerrero also balances this with regular sequences in which the rap and scrape of the dancers’ shoes is the only sound required, providing their own rhythm and momentum to feed the energy of the dance, and the sound of 26 pairs of heels stomping rapidly in absolute unison is powerful.
The most exhilarating piece on offer is one of the penultimate phases, opening with a spotlight soloist shadowed by his broad-brimmed hat, awaiting the arrival of his fellows who perform festive tanguillos in a piece entitled Del Cabo a la Alcazaba. Soon making way for the women, their cantiñas are a riot of colour and movement, bright yellow dresses paired with beautifully embroidered floral shawls designed by Jose Maria Tarriño and the Bordados Foronda. Plaza de las Flores is a beautifully light and summery piece, filled with joy and exceptionally well performed, introducing the world to what can only be described as ‘ruffleography’ as the dancers’ layered skirts pool together in memorable stage pictures.
It is a shame that the show returns to uniform black for its conclusion, a poem by Manuel Benitez Carraco, performed by Guerrero in Spanish without surtitles, which may leave some audience members unsure of the content. However, the comedic meaning is conveyed through the dramatic reading and solo by the dancer-choreographer. Joined by her ensemble, it is a strong ending to an evening that blends the emotive woe of flamenco with the celebratory to explore how tradition and innovation combine to produce something new.
Runs until 29 June 2026
The Flamenco Festival runs until 28 June 2026
