LA LEONA MEANS BOTH THE LIONESS AND THE FLAMENCO GUITAR OF ANTONIO DE TORRES

By Char XO | Memoirs & Musings ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

La Leona, part of the annual Flamenco Festival at the iconic Sadler’s Wells, features award winning dancer, Olga Pericet, on a tale of passion, romance, and eroticism. Please note, the show contains nudity.

“La Leona means both the lioness and the flamenco guitar of Antonio De Torres. This avante garde solo puts Pericet in the spotlight – stripping herself physically and spiritually in a unique and intimate experience with the audience.

Combining theatre and dance, Pericet has created a world for her latest work that is as poetic and surreal as its title, filled with imagery that evoke Westerns, wakes and the stars themselves.

With a running time of one hour and ten minutes, no interval is needed as you are enthralled from start to beginning.

‘La Leona’ in Spanish translates to lioness, and Pericet embodies the graceful and powerful essence of one. The show begins with Pericet rising from what I’d call a deep sleep and beginning her journey through discovery and sensuality. It almost feels like you shouldn’t be watching, given its sensuality, but the voyeur in you wants you to be fixated on the performance in front of your eyes.

Here are a few reasons why you should watch La Leona when it is back in town:

· Sensuality as its finest. The main dancer is not afraid to lean into her sexuality from start to finish.

· The costume design. From the simplicity of using a blanket to make a dress to the structured pink dress at the end of the show which becomes part of the performance.

· Accompanies by live music which should be celebrated in its own right. Vocals, guitar, and percussion is what brings the dancing to life. Not only that, you’ll be amazed as what constitutes as an instrument! The band discover that scissors and paper can be on beat too.

· The dancing of course. How often do you get to see such talent? Strictly Come Dancing doesn’t count in my view.

The Flamenco Festival transports you to the streets of Buenos Aires whilst you endure hot sticky summer (thankfully Sadlers Wells). Whilst flights may be £1,000+ to the Argentinian capital, you can take yourself there for a fraction of the price with show tickets ranging from £18 to £45. Stamp your mind instead of your passport.

La Leona infuses modern elements of choreography, salsa, and samba against a backdrop of a live band and vocals to entice you into a world of modern flamenco.

Find out more here: www.flamencofestival.org

SADLER’S WELLS

Sadler’s Wells is a world-leading creative organisation dedicated to dance in all its forms. With over three centuries of theatrical heritage and a year-round programme of performances and learning activities, it is the place where artists come together to create dance, and where people of all backgrounds come to experience it – to take part, learn, experiment and be inspired.

Photo Credit: Paco Villalta