"Flamenco Cabaret": An Evening of Music and Dance with Melissa Cruz.
Recalling the alluring atmosphere of the famous Andalusian "cafes cantantes," "Flamenco Cabaret" brings the dynamism of flamenco to the historic Mission Masonic Center. Joined by her cast of seasoned artists, Cruz presents a diverse program of dances, expressing the full spectrum of human emotion. Deep cante jondo juxtaposes with light-hearted cante chico. The pulse of palmas and the stirring poly-rhythms of heelwork weave and unravel to create tension and release so emblematic of flamenco. A guitar’s rapid picado and thundering rasgueado meet articulating arms and fingers of bailaoras as they bring forth other-worldly inspirations. “Any dancer could make pained faces. But Cruz is clearly possessed by the duende — the spirit that drives this deeply introspective art.” -Rachel Howard, SF Chronicle