"LOS CUATRO ELEMENTOS" Autumn Festival in Madrid Teatro Albéniz - Madrid

Text : Sonia M. Pariente
Photos: © Javier Suarez

Four styles of dance

The show “Los cuatro elementos” (the four elements) was the flamenco element within Madrid’s Festival de Otoño. Water, aire, earth and fire, and four dancers: Rocío Molina, Carlos Rodríguez (Dani Doña los días 23 y 23), Alejandro Granados and Carmen Cortés. With this motif no plot has been added but rather it is a series of flamenco dances. The show is decorated with lighting by Cliffton Taylor with projections showing each of the elements, and wardrobe by Miguel Androver giving a certain cosmopolitan look to the set, although the distinctive touch is the style each dancer exhibits to simbolize the element in question.

Rocío Molina is sensual with guajiras...she is water. The young dancer knows how to incorporate every part of her body resulting in a very expressive dance. Her arms are elegant, her style flamenco with modern touches and bursts of strength, and the overall projection is as refreshing as her ‘element’.

Rocío Molina	Carmen Cortés

Carlos Rodríguez is air as he is carried away by the compás of fandangos. Melding a classic style with a touch of flash, he doesn’t depend on footwork, but rather bases his dance on the resources of his body and hands. Carlos Rodríguez suggests “air” with a lovely piece and attractive choreography full of sensitivity.

“Earth” as represented por seguiriyas by Alejandro Granados shows a more primitive and pure style. Dancing which is deeply rooted and full of substance. Alejandro’s dancing is very flamenco, and the dancer has tremendous concentration.

Carmen Cortés is “fire”. This versatile dancer pulls out her racial, passionate dance via soleá. Feet, hands, it’s all one entity, and always elegant. Although her dress was lovely and daring, in the style of Eurovision’s Salomé, it made it difficult to appreciate the heelwork and sinuous movements which would have been enhanced by a less elaborate costume.

Director Jacqulyn Buglisi kept to the standard format of this type of show, with brief duets and transitions. Water bathes the earth and air with a delicate number by Rocío Molina and Carlos Rodríguez, but there is also a joint number at the beginning and end. Gerardo Núñez’ musical direction provides the modern touch in each piece without overdoing it, and the musicians are all excellent.

Alejandro Granados