Edwin Aparicio's ‘Dos Mundos' at GALA Hispanic Theatre; Kindred the Family Soul at 9:30 Club

Edwin Aparicio's "Dos Mundos" program Saturday at the GALA Hispanic Theatre was meant to juxtapose tradition and innovation. In the end, that was largely irrelevant to the program's decided success, because what Aparicio delivered was good flamenco. He used his ensemble creatively, selectively and tastefully, with the majority of the program devoted to solos by the principals (including himself). Prime among this group was guest artist La Tati (Francisca Sadornil Ruiz), the flamenco legend with whom Aparicio has studied.

Many elements of new flamenco were in evidence. There was complex choreography, for example. In this program, Aparicio juxtaposed principal dancers with the ensemble more often than incorporating the two, and fashioned his works as abstract compositions (rather than story ballets). The ensemble wore boot-cut jeans.

But what matters most in flamenco is duende (soul), whether one is dressed in flounces or jeans. The genre's timeless heart reveals itself only when technique is so good that it is second nature, becoming a conduit for expressing feelings precisely and powerfully. When that happens, sparks fly.

And, boy, did they fly when La Tati performed, even when standing still. Her breaks between verses often halted so abruptly, after wildly increasing tempos, that she continued to exude the feeling that propelled her there. Even after decades of performing, there is no fluff in this hellion. She attacks movement as ruthlessly as ever and defies any need to decorously adjust the choreography.

Principal Defne Enc was a study in how duende can vary. Unlike Tati's, her performance wasn't steamy, but it was hot in a way that warmed the heart.

"Dos Mundos" concluded the three-week Fuego Flamenco festival, which is part of GALA's annual ArteAmericA series.

-- Pamela Squires

Kindred the Family Soul

Husband-and-wife team Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon, who perform together as the group Kindred the Family Soul, know that a marriage is only as good as its ability to withstand tough times. Their music is filled with lyrics about remaining strong as a couple, despite the strains of the outside world. And at their show at the 9:30 club Sunday night, it was clear that the Philadelphia duo apply a similar approach to their professional lives.

Although opening act Anthony David was a no-show and Graydon was a little hoarse, the couple still managed to entertain their fans with a set that ran through the basics of married life in just more than an hour.

After singing "Alright," from their new album "The Arrival," and "Rhythm of Love" from their 2003 debut "Surrender to Love," Graydon announced it was Dantzler's birthday and serenaded him with "Woman First," a song about staying connected as a woman and man even after becoming mom and dad. "This is what you do when you don't buy a gift!" she said. "You are my gift," he replied.

Disgustingly mushy? Definitely. Yet it was hard to begrudge Graydon and Dantzler their hard-won happiness (and the PDA that comes with it) after they performed the new single, "House of Love," which details the sacrifice and compromise at the foundation of their marital and musical success. "People told us, 'There's no way you can make it after you have a baby and get married,' " Graydon told the crowd. "But you all made our dream come true."

-- Sarah Godfrey