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Sarah Frater's rating
, Not enough passion from Rojas and Rodriguez
By
Sarah Frater
31 Oct 2008
I admit it - I have a crush on Rojas and Rodriguez. The Spanish dancing duo have the sort of Take That hairdos that bring out the teen-screamer in me, something their stubbly chins only aids and abets. Being on first name terms (Rojas! Rodriguez!) only adds to their Boy Band appeal - not to mention their pert posteriors.
Rojas and Rodriguez have an amiable show at the Peacock Theatre featuring 11 dancers and eight numbers. The programme calls it, a “passionate panorama” of flamenco - something Trades Descriptions should swoop on. Trading Standards should also nail the costumes, which were perilously matching (pink earrings and pink hair combs!), while Rojas and Rodriguez’s suits may feature drip-dry fabrics.
Having a crush on Rojas and Rodriguez means I’m pained to call their show mild-mannered, but mild-mannered it is - and no amount of mixing up modern and traditional styles with accents of traditional Spanish and contemporary dance, as the programme puts it, changes things. It’s all wonderfully bland and accessible, which will annoy purists, something I used to be until I saw Rojas and Rodriguez.
Conventional flamenco requires the dancers to be so isolated in their anguish as to barely acknowledge the audience. There’s none of that here.
There were a couple of floaty bits, a couple of rattan chairs, and some snazzy lighting. The choreographed group dances felt by-the-yard, although the improv-looking sections had us olé-ing like good ’uns. It won’t surprise you to know that Rojas and Rodriguez received the loudest cheer.
Until 15 November. Information 0844 412 4300. www.sadlerswells.com
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Reader views (2)
I can't comment on the London show but I've seen Rojas y Rodriguez ( As they are known in Spain , Ben ) 5 times , the last being yesterday evening in Madrid .
The point of these guys is to mix Flamenco with other forms of theatre and dance and that's what makes them practically superstars in Spain .
I lived in Madrid for 4 years and have seen many pure flamenco shows but have also attended flamenco press conferences where pure , gypsy flamenco artists are embracing the new fusion dance and song whilst wanting to maintain pure tradition too . Both working side by side .
Rojas y Rodriguez's latest work was " Baile de Mascaras " .. very different to previous works such as "Sangre" and "El Alma" . It features quite a bit of narrative to explain the history .. The relationship between King Fernado 7th of Spain , Napoleon and the painter Goya .
It really was spectacular and inventive . And I , for one , have been moved to tears at every performance i've seen of theirs .
It's a shame that they don't seem to have gone down so well in London .
Maybe they're not being understood properley since passion is absolutely central to their performances .
- Steve Robinson, Madrid , Spain ( Espana ), 01/12/2008 11:13
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Humm... Rojas and Rodriguez are their LAST names. Their first names are Angel and Carlos.
Apart from that, totaly agree with your review. The improvised, purest, moments were the best, the rest was borderline cheesy (the second number between one girl and two guys was particularly tacky)
- Ben, London, 03/11/2008 09:54
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