The world famous flamenco artist Sara Baras graces the stage at the New York City Center this week in the U.S. premiere of Voces, Suite Flamenca, alongside company dancers of Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras, guest artist José Serrano, and eight renowned flamenco musicians.
Known for capturing the emotion, drama, and passion of traditional flamenco with a vibrant contemporary edge, in Voces Ms. Baras pays tribute to her artistic heritage. Beginning with an invocation of the spirits, the show is anchored in the remembrance of artists such as Paco de Lucía, Camarón de la Isla, Antonio Gades, Enrique Morente, Moraíto, and Carmen Amaya: panels line the stage with their portraits as audio recordings of the artists' voices are played. Baras reaches back to a place of the past and brings it forth to collaborate with this contemporary generation, celebrating the evolution and continuation of flamenco expression.
Baras and Serrano make for a stunning dance couple -- fierce, passionate, robust. The strong and assertive sounds of their dancing feet are supported by and communicate with guitars, cajón drums, singing voices, hand clapping, and finger snapping. At times, there is call and response in the music and the dance, and always a dialogue within the group -- an expression of the soul through flamenco. The dance demands our attention through a strong stance, snaky limbs, and immense control, but is magnified by the power of the music. The intensity and intricacy of the compas with the added dramatic performance style and outward thrust of the spirit within incites shouts, applause, and olés from the audience. The then and now of toque, cante, and baile are shared within the community on stage and presented to us as an invitation to join the celebration and listen to the many voices of flamenco.
