Jacob’s Pillow, Becket, MA
through June 30, 2019
by Josephine Sarnelli
Two years ago, Compañia Irene Rodriguez’s performances were
sold-out before opening night at Jacob’s Pillow. Her highly anticipated return
this week did not disappoint. Based in Cuba, her dance company blends
traditional flamenco and Spanish dance with Afro-Cuban music and contemporary
inspiration.
The program opened with “El Mito,” the only repeat from her
previous engagement. It playfully introduced the audience to the complexity of
flamenco footwork (zapateado) by placing a screen in front of the dancers to
expose only their feet and bare legs, unencumbered with either skirts or pants.
It was a brilliant way to focus attention on the percussive techniques.
“Homenaje a José Greco,” sung by Andrés Correa while
accompanied by four musicians, paid tribute to the centennial of the great
flamenco dancer’s birth. Of note is that his daughter, Carmela Greco is on
faculty for the Pillow’s Flamenco and Spanish Program this summer and spoke
earlier in the day at a free PillowTalk discussion.
Two of the performance pieces, “La Pena Negra” and “Entre
Espinas, Rosas,” involved dresses with long, ruffled trains called bata de cola.
In the first, Ms. Rodriguez’s long black dress was used in both traditional and
non-traditional forms. She worked it not as an accessory, but more as an
additional body appendage. In the second half, four troupe members performed in
bata de cola while using fans. They masterfully demonstrated their technique in
using both simultaneously.
“El Grito” was inspired by Edvard Munch’s composition "The
Scream." True to the symbolism of the artwork depicting the anxiety of modern
man, the dancers performed a frenetic choreography, first with shoes, then
barefoot; initially with their hair neatly styled, then degenerating to wildly
being tossed, as in certain forms of Middle Eastern dancing to cast out spirits.
Exuberant castanet playing completed the feeling of chaos.
Photo by Christopher Duggan |
Inspired by Spanish bullfighting, “Encierro” had five female
dancers assume the movements and personae of bulls in a confrontation with
Yohan Garcia, as the toreador. Each landed blow by the sword was felt by the
audience, yet Ms. Rodriguez did not succumb.
The finale was a solo piece highlighting Ms. Rodriguez’s
many talents in dexterous mantón (shawl) techniques and lightning speed
footwork. Trained in classical ballet, she even performed some flamenco en pointe.
It was truly an amazing evening by an amazing dance troupe and choreographer!