(Above: James
Grace with dancers Carli Olivier, Monique Els and Marilie Viljoen. Pic by
Dewald Prinsloo)
James
Grace and the Compania Sophia give a fantastic recital and are a worthy
addition to The Playhouse Company’s celebration of women during their South
African Women’s Arts Festival. (Review by Gemma
Schumann)
The Playhouse Loft stage was set with an enticing solo by the principal dancer and choreographer Carli Olivier, who drew the audience in with a black swan-like number. Olivier was then joined by her company dancers Monique Els and Marilie Viljoen in a dance with the pericón (a large fan used in flamenco). The skilled use of the fan by the dancers of Compania Sohpia exhibited the romance that the production is named for.
Enter James Grace, a South African Music Award Winning guitarist whose accomplished playing lent a more authentic feeling of Spain. Throughout the show Grace’s anecdotal and informative chats about music theory and the history of Spanish music and dance allowed for a deeper understanding and enjoyment for the audience.
In the first act, the standout number by the dancers was the Farruca. The powerful performance was elevated by the contemporary costume design that was used as a prop within the choreography.
Another notable dance involved a gorgeous Spanish shawl that requires grace and skill to use effectively. Using only one shawl between the three dancers was something I had not seen before, and the choreography was executed beautifully.
The dance numbers were interspersed with solo performances by Grace which were superb in their own right but offered a break from the intensity of the flamenco dancing. When the two came together it was stunning, particularly in Asturias by Isaac Albénez. The guitar and dancing, combined with castanets, created a compelling end of the first half.
Act two continued with even more exquisite costumes, more castanets, and more wonderful guitar sketches. Grace’s outstanding performance in this act was his rendition Danza Española: No. 5 "Andaluza". His delicate playing painted the picture of the Andalusian countryside.
But my favourite performance would have to be the Alegrías. One of the more traditional flamenco rhythms in the production, the dance was wonderfully performed in bata de cola, a dress with a long train that was controlled by the dancers with strength, grace, and skill. It also showcased their percussive footwork a bit more than the previous numbers.
The Loft Theatre is a wonderful venue for a performance as intimate as Romanza. James Grace and the Compania Sophia give a fantastic recital and are a worthy addition to The Playhouse Company’s celebration of women during their South African Women’s Arts Festival.
There is still one more performance left of Romanza today in the Playhouse Loft Theatre at 19h00. This should be as much in demand as the first performance. - Gemma Schumann)
Tickets R100. Book at Webtickets.
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