Flamenco's Vargas, Still Fluid And Fiery

Antonio Vargas still has it. This pioneer of flamenco dance formed his first company in the '60s and now devotes much of his time to teaching. His guest appearance Saturday at Joy of Motion's "La Magia del Flamenco" program had those flashes of bravura that made him a world-renowned performer.

Vargas is short and compact with a bush of now-gray hair, and his dancing is focused and taut. How good it was to see the maturity of a seasoned performer who commands the stage easily, never overplaying his performance and using economy of movement to produce maximum effect. His percussive footwork makes crystal clear the difference between those who dance to music and those who become part of the musical ensemble. Vargas is a trained musician and has a musician's ear for how his footwork links to the guitar. His bravura comes from within, fueled by intense sensitivity to rhythmic complexities and melodic drive. Feeling bursts forth when it can no longer be contained.

Vargas was in town to give a 10-day series of classes in flamenco technique and choreography at Joy of Motion. The evening celebrated the conclusion of his residency. Students performed (farrucas, solea por bulerias, rumbas, guajiras and Sevillanos), as did the studio's resident flamenco company, Furia Flamenca (alegrias, fandangos and tangos). Estela Velez, who leads the resident company, turned in a confident solo (alegrias). A guitar solo by Torcuato Zamora preceded Vargas's appearance at the end of the program.

The evening was a testament to the growing interest here in flamenco, a phenomenon that made it possible for Joy of Motion's Doug Yuell to bring in such a major artist for a teaching residency.

-- Pamela Squires