Flamenco Con Fusion 08
Flamenco Con Fusion 08
By Ricardo Garcia
Orange Venue, Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival</strong>
There’s a stereotype of Spain – slicked haired guitarists playing for fiery women in Cuban heels who chews on roses and flatten the manhood of anyone foolish enough to fall in love. Ricardo Garcia sits upstage and fulfills the first of these roles – his fingers seem enchanted, and his guitar issues more notes than you can count, but the music is deliberately breathtaking without becoming breathless. La Canela (Leticia Jimenez) flounces out in a staccato of heels and arm waving, her white dress suggestively transparent in the back lighting, and we are transported to old Valencia. But this Andalusian spell is broken by BGirl Bounce (Jen Casimir), who break dances like a Mentors ad set in Time Square. There’s a curious correlation between the two styles, but if I had to vote, La Canela is the better dancer. She’s also the woman most likely to make you miserable, and love her for every miserable minute.
I found myself drifting off occasionally. The Flamenco seems stronger than the break dancing, and more surprising. The women taunt each other, then settle it with dance but picking a winner is left to the audience’s imagination. Mr. Garcia may be the real winner – when he’s in control of the sound track, its magic on stage, and when he adds an odd chord to the R&B soundtrack, it seems like he’s in alien territory. A half hour of Garcia and Jimenez might be better than a goatskin full of Vino Tinto.
More information on Flamenco Con Fusion may be found at http://www.flamencoflow.com
or http://www.ricardogarciaguitarist.com</aThis> show is presented as part of the 17th Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival. Information on times, tickets, and venue location my be found at http://OrlandoFringe.org/<em> <p </em>
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