<P><BR>A new Flamenco show 'Pura Pasion' is coming to Sadler's Wells in February and it promises some super dancers. I see that they are using a variety of musical styles to accompany the dancing and I shall try to keep an open mind this. However, the move to reduce the importance of Flamenco singing seems rather opportunistic as it is this aspect of the art form that audiences outside Spain find the most difficult. I've grown to enjoy the singing, despite its harshness and I now appreciate the depth of emotion that it can express. I hope this is not a trend. <P>Here is some information about 'Pura Pasion'.<P> <A HREF="http://www.sadlers-wells.com/peacock/spring2001/pura.asp" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sadlers-wells.com/peacock/spring2001/pura.asp</A> <P>'Joaquin Cortés - The man who is sex on legs.' Pura Pasion by Chrissie Iley.<P>Now this could be one of the strangest dance articles of the year. Chrissie Iley has written this fluff piece about Cortez, who might be described as 'The man who is ego on legs', with stuff about his relationship with Naomi Campbell (yawn, yawn).<P>This is a preview for Pura Pasion, but as the 'This is London' listings tells us:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Cristobal Reyes, uncle of Joaquin Cortes and arguably the far better dancer, and the smouldering 19-year-old Lola Greco bring all the passion, fire and anguish of the gypsy dance with an opulent style that balances innovation and tradition with a contemporary edge.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Yes, that 's right - Cortez is not in this show, althoughhe is a co-Producer. <P> <A HREF="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/hottx/music/review.html?in_review_id=362943&in_review_text_id=309590" TARGET=_blank>http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/hottx/music/review.<BR>html?in_review_id=362943&in_review_text_id=309590</A> <P><BR>'Gypsy kings reign in Spain. Get ready for flamenco's answer to 'Riverdance',' says Jenny Gilbert as 'Pura Pasión' prepares for a season at London's Peacock Theatre.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"Ten years ago," says Cristobal Reyes, the show's director and Joaquin's uncle, "the only flamenco you saw here was either rubbish for tourists, or museum exhibits for old people." The real thing, he explains, was a secret shared by tiny groups of aficionados in basement rooms: inaccessible, a closed shop, dying on its feet. So why not just take the old flamenco culture and present it in 6,000-seat theatres? "Because," he laughs, "ees good for 10 minutes. Then... " He drops his chin on his chest and gives an extravagant snore.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Some of us would dissent from that view. <P> <A HREF="Http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/theatre/Dance/2001-02/flamenco250201.shtml" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/theatre/Dance/2001-02/flamenco250201.shtml</A> <P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited February 28, 2001).]

Anne Sacks the dance critic of The Evening Standard (not available on-line) found things to admire in 'Pura Pasión', but I found it the least interesting Flamenco show I have seen. Some good flamenco spots made the first half OK, but not special. However, the second half seemed to be based on the idea that we must all be bored with this great dance form by then and we got a mock bull-fight, mock Indian dance and mock Africal dance, mixed in with Flamenco Fusion, all three of these messy pieces choreographed by Dagmar Brown. Thank goodness, Christobal Reyes had a 16 minute Flamenco solo, which showed his mastery of ultra-fast footwork, but lacked something in upper body sculptural work for me. I didn't like the fusion music either.<P>Judith Mackrell and Donald Hutera were similarly unimpressed:<P><BR>'Pura Pasion' by Judith Mackrell for The Guardian <BR> <A HREF="Http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4144874,00.html" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4144874,00.html</A> <P>'Spanish, but not much fly,' BY DONALD HUTERA for The Times<BR> <A HREF="Http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,62-92626,00.html" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,62-92626,00.html</A>

'<I>Pura Pasion</I> - Third-class stamp,' by John Percival, who is underwhelmed to say the least. <BR> <A HREF="http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Dance/Reviews/2001-03/dance050301.shtml" TARGET=_blank>http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/<BR>Dance/Reviews/2001-03/dance050301.shtml</A> <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited March 05, 2001).]

Ismene Brown is umimpressed with Pura Pasion:<P>'Floundering flamenco' - Ismene Brown is unimpressed with 'Pura Pasion' at the Peacock Theatre.<P> <A HREF="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000148269364269&rtmo=gjjblGSu&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/01/3/6/btflam06.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000148269364269&rtmo<BR>=gjjblGSu<BR>&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/01/3/6/btflam06.html</A> <P>But Jenny Gilbert enjoys the traditional aspects of the show and just wishes that there were more: <P>'Pura Pasión - Passionate, poised, but hardly pure.' <P> <A HREF="http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Dance/Reviews/2001-03/gilbert040301.shtml" TARGET=_blank>http://www.independent.co.uk/enjoyment/Theatre/Dance/Reviews/2001-03/gilbert040301.sht ml</A> <P>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited March 06, 2001).]<p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited March 09, 2001).]

'Pura Pasion - straight from the Costa del Sunburn,' by CLEMENT CRISP. Not to Mr Crisp's taste and small wonder!<P> <A HREF="http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=010306001056&query=Clement+Crisp" TARGET=_blank>http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=010306001056&query=Clement+Crisp</A> <BR>