Company:  Yumi La Rosa

Choreographer: Yumi La Rosa

Performer: Yumi La Rosa

Yumi La Rosa belies her petite frame by becoming a towering figure in her flamenco persona. She has an arresting presence that simply commands the stage. In contrast to some previous performances I’ve seen, I thought she dialed it down this evening and allowed us a slightly different perspective on this fiery art. La Rosa is capable of sustaining a blistering staccato with her feet, but we saw/heard relatively little of the characteristic high-impact footwork we associate with flamenco. Instead of the pyrotechnics, she concentrated on the sweeping legwork, graceful upper-body motions and articulate hand gestures that can often get lost in the fireworks.

With her great flexibility (and impossible backbends) her arm and hand gestures were performed in a mesmerizing array of attitudes – including horizontal. I am particularly taken with how articulate and expressive her hands can be. In my ignorance, I don’t know what, if any, cross cultural influences exist between Spanish, Middle-Eastern and Indian dance styles, but to my simple sensibilities, I find their amazingly complex hand motions incredibly exotic. La Rosa’s expressive hands, wrists and fingers have a life of their own, seemingly apart from her body.

It would be seriously remiss not to mention her dress. Beautiful and elegant though it is, this is so much more than a costume. It almost becomes a partner as she manipulates the train with swirls and graceful leg sweeps. It is an integral, essential part of the dance.

I have seen Yumi La Rosa perform before, and it is never anything less than a privilege. She presents an amazing figure on stage and her consummate artistry elevates an already passionate art form to the sublime.

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