Friday, November 13, 2009

LORCA, In Search of Duende (Flamenco performance)

“If I could tell you what it meant, there would be no point in dancing it.”
-Isadora Duncan


www.ryoung-art.com


It's 1:00 in the morning and Sandy and I have returned from a night out with friends. We just saw a Flamenco performance of Federico Garcia Lorca's "In Search of Duende".

Quoting from the program, this work "...is admired for its emotional intensity and metaphorical brilliance. (Lorca) takes us directly and memorably into 'the dark root of the scream', the terrain of the duende, where reason and intellect discover their limitations in a new poetic reality. We discover through his metaphors the plaintive notion of..."

Okay, I didn't pull any of that from the performance. I like to think it's because the singing and minimal narrative was all in Spanish, and not that it was too cerebral for me. So this is how I felt about it...

This was the soul's darkness and passion set to music (and really, is there ANY performing art more passionate than Latin dance?). The performance began with a spectacular solo by guest Juan Ogalla. I never would have expected a male dancer to be most memorable for me, but with the power and refinement he displayed Ogalla was definitely a stand-out.

The show was interspersed with dance and music (a trio with vocalist, who admittedly became tiresome to me after a while). But the dance was phenomenal. It was beautiful and sexy, aggressive and angry. And overall quite enjoyable.

Here are some shots from our night.


Theatre was in Toronto down by the lake (Harbourfront). The sunset sky was washed in a beautiful pink hue just minutes before I snapped this.


Sandy looked great (as usual)



the dynamic duo

Maryam and Ashley


Patricia (she's been taking Flamenco lessons)


There was an Inuit Art gallery in the Centre. This sculpture is carved from whalebone; it was about 3 1/2 feet high.



Okay, in the spirit of the fashion blogs I've been stumbling across and the influence you're all having on me here's my first attempt. This is a 100% monochromatic look; I'm all in black from head-to-toe, inside and out.

Wool and cashmere coat by Brogue of Italy, dress pants by Denver Hayes, shirt by Moto, underwear by Hanes, belt from Walmart, socks by I don't know, shoes by Mark David, insoles from Dundas University Health Clinic, laces came with the shoes.

How's that? :)

6 comments:

  1. I love going to operas & ballets & performances. It takes you somewhere else. That's cool that you go do things like this. That sunset is beautiful & you guys looked very fashion forward! What's so nice about watching people perform is it's their lives & they try their hardest to show you the emotion. Sounds like you felt it. =)

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  2. Hey Melanie! I always take something away with me after a show. The Arts evoke some sort of emotion in me, whether or not I completely absorb the vision of the performance.

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  3. You look great.

    I've watched a Flamenco performance in Spain before and I was really mesmerized. The emotions, the movements and the costume were all captivating.

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  4. I love that you have an outfit post here. That's awesome. :) And, by the way, that is a great outfit. You look good in all black. It was perfect for the occasion!

    You and Sandy are always doing something fun it seems. I'm totally jealous. Lol. I need to get out more with Rian!

    The flamenco dance sounds so beautiful and inspiring...I bet it was breathtaking to watch.

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  5. I always try to take something with me at the end of the show as well, sometimes it's a poster, sometimes it's security chasing me in the parking lot....just kidding. Glad you guys had fun, and you both look great. I get my socks at Sock-Mart

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  6. Ok this is a late comment

    You look strange without your hat (like on your profile). Do you always shave your head? My brother Neville also have zero hair. When I send you a pic of me I'll make sure he is in it too, ok?

    And you live that near to the ocean. Unfair.

    Lovely pics!!!

    You and your family should enjoy your weekend. :)

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