Flamenco dancer Anabel Moreno from Encuentro erases the illusion of the dance form as simply stomping of feet. By Ankita Jain
She becomes the music as her body swings to the rhythm with a lightening-like presence on stage. She stomps her feet, swirls her skirt, flings her arms and tosses her head as she moves sinuously to the music. One moment she is flirtatious as she daintily taps her feet, the next, she is aggression personified as she snaps her skirt dominating the stage with movements that cover the length and breadth of the performing space.
A trained Flamenco dancer from Spain 'the home of the Flamenco' Anabel conquered the stage with the group Jose Almarcha (guitarist), Juan Debel (singer) and Javier Valduncie (percussionist). Before joining the post show cocktail party, she talked about her career and artistic sensibilities, while Javier Valduncie, the percussionist shared his learning experience so far. "I have been dancing all my life and made this my profession when I reached 11," said Anabel. When asked how old she is now, the 30-year-old dancer gushed, "I am 18 now and shall always be a teenager."
Her energetic performance on stage galvanised everyone to tap their feet and clap their hands loud. "I usually perform for an hour but once I performed nonstop for about 120 minutes with the same vigour.
For such show, one should be physically as well as mentally fit and sound and of course, strong feet," said Anabel who is flying back to Spain for her next performance.
Earlier performed in Kolkata, Javier played percussion striking with the hand, "I perform not only with the hands but also include drums, cymbals, xylophones, gongs, bells, and rattles. I am still in the learning stage; everyday is a challenge to perform better."
"When I was 13, a lover boy then, I started this as a hobby to impress my girlfriend who was a dancer and as time passed, percussion became a source of income to me," he added.
With a glass of wine, Sanjeev Bhargava, founder at Seher shared, "There is nothing to know, there is nothing to read. The best part about culture is reacting from the heart. And that's Spain." Besides,
every month they are doing something new with international artistes at Bikaner House. "It will be a new country everytime but Spain, Italy and France are our major partners," said Sanjeev. This was the first ever regal performance of the group from Spain to mark the 60 years of cordial relationship between India and Spain which was witnessed at Bikaner House in association with the embassy of Spain and Seher. With the majestic backdrop of Bikaner House, this preview was a true representation of striving and nurturing art and culture.
These Spanish artistes will be seen in the second edition of the Udaipur Music festival that will enthrall Rajasthan with its soulful music in February next year.