Flamenco fiesta

Tonight’s audience had left the safety of their living rooms, forsaking Strictly Come Dancing, for an invitation to an Andalucian street party. Flamenco Fiesta, choreographed by Amarita Vargas, stepped out with a graceful and sedate 'Sevillana': often performed at fiestas in Spain, it is the only dance done in pairs. Featuring her Oxford Flamenco Group, this reminded one of the camaraderie, strength and shared traditions of Spanish women: black-clad and feet tapping in time to mark their solidarity and sisterhood.

Singers and musicians sat in a line on a stage at the back, delivering flamenco guitar, Moorish-tinged cries, songs and the traditional clapping and stomping, which provide the platform for Flamenco – an interplay of Islamic, Andalucian, Sephardic and Gypsy. Amarita’s sketches of Flamenco figures were projected as a backdrop.

'Tientos' and 'Alegrias' followed, demonstrating the intricate hand- and footwork belonging to this genre, once again performed by the scarf-wearing ladies of the village.

By this time those invited to the party had quaffed the odd Jerez and were dying to see something more lively and impassioned. Enter some colour, more stomp, attitude and passion. The fiesta threw us the wise and sensual women of the village to bash out some fire-in-the-belly 'Tangos' and 'Sevillanas' as though their family reputation depended on it. Heads held high, straight backed, their pride and a cunning sexuality on full feather display, Annika Strandberg and Rowena Ritchie put some punch into the party.

A 'Solea', by Amarita herself, whooshing the tail of her flamenco frock and kicking up the street dust enlivened things some more - but hang on a minute: what have we here, swaggering from a side street? Oliver Giffin, the fresh-faced toreador, back from his debut at the Bullring. Buzzing with the arrogance of youth, off he goes, as if in a world of his own, all lithe limbs and Cuban heels you can barely keep up with. He’s masterful, sleek, sexy, proud, kind of dangerous and the probably the talk of the village – now this kid can dance and the fiesta-goers know it. To shouts of "Bravo!" and "Fantastico!" the party continues on into the night!

Nadine Mills (Unverified), 12/11/07