Jesús Carmona's 'UnYdos': flamenco delivered with flourish and fire
At Sadler's Wells in London, Jesús Carmona opened the Flamenco Festival with 'UnYdos', a stripped-back show showcasing his mastery of tension and rhythm.
The 21st Flamenco Festival at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre kicked off with a stunning performance by Jesús Carmona in 'UnYdos'. Carmona, a former dancer with Eva Yerbabuena, leans toward the purer end of flamenco but with a modern sensibility. The show is a minimalist affair: just two dancers (Carmona and Lucía Campillo) and four musicians (a guitarist and three singers/handclappers). It is a rhythmic study, with even the guitar often played percussively.
Carmona excels at playing with tension and attack—he suddenly erupts or acquiesces, shifting the energy around him. His legs fly and flick like a top midfielder, yet he maintains an absolute core of composure and beautifully tight spins. Award-winning singer Jesús Corbacho stands out with his lithe, flexible voice, spinning melodic yarns in long phrases. Campillo dances with traditional props: a shawl clutched intensely to her body then swung in huge arcs, and a bata de cola dress with a long train, adding weight to her graceful movements.
While 'UnYdos' is no radical reinvention—there are only whispers of experimentation—Carmona shows real mastery in this stark setting. The show runs until 17 June, and the Flamenco Festival continues until 29 June.
