The annual Flamenco festival at Sadler's Wells in London has commenced in spectacular style with Jesús Carmona's show UnYdos, a display of serpentine grace and rhythmic precision. The performance, which opened the 21st edition of the festival, showcases Carmona's magnetic power as a dancer fully in control of his instrument and his audience.
A Stripped-Back Affair
UnYdos is a minimalist production, featuring only two dancers—Carmona and Lucía Campillo—alongside four musicians: a guitarist and three singers who also serve as handclappers. There is no theatrical setup or thematic investigation; instead, the focus is on rhythm and pure flamenco expression. Even the guitar is often played percussively, emphasizing the rhythmic study at the heart of the show.
Carmona's Mastery
Carmona opens the performance posed in a square of light against a blacked-out stage, slowly unfurling an arm with serpentine grace before snatching at the air in a sudden grasp. This ability to play with tension and attack—to suddenly erupt or acquiesce—marks him as a great dancer. His legs fly and flick like a top midfielder's, yet he maintains a core of absolute composure, executing beautifully tight spins. He stamps out demons in bursts of wild limbs, demonstrating both power and control.
Campillo's Traditional Props
Lucía Campillo dances with traditional props, delivering a perfectly judged solo with a shawl. She first clutches it intensely to her body, then swings its heavy fabric in huge arcs. Later, she changes into a bata de cola dress with a long train, wielding the cumbersome fabric while maintaining elegance—a nod to the weight of womanhood in flamenco tradition.
Musical Highlights
Award-winning singer Jesús Corbacho stands out among the musicians, his lithe, flexible voice spinning melodic yarns in long phrases with real sensitivity of tone. The singers also provide palmas (handclaps), adding to the percussive texture of the show.
A Pure Yet Modern Flamenco
Carmona, a former dancer with Eva Yerbabuena, falls towards the purer end of the flamenco spectrum, albeit with a modern look and sensibility. UnYdos is no radical reinvention of the form—there are only whispers of experimentation, including an avant-garde red blouson for the final costume. But exposed by such a stark setting and mood, Carmona shows real mastery.
The two-week festival encompasses a wide range of contemporary flamenco, from traditional to cutting edge. UnYdos runs at Sadler's Wells, London, until 17 June, and the Flamenco festival continues until 29 June.
