For an hour I was transfixed on the beautiful and elegant flamenco dancer Aylin Bayaz and her brilliant guitarist Raul Mannola. Together they brought a slice of sumptuous Spanish entertainment to an intimate theatre in Fremantle.
They performed at the former FTI building, now DADAA space to a small yet very appreciative audience. The night began with Raul playing the guitar like a master. The door staff told me he practises three hours a day and boy do I believe it. He was technically brilliant. In Raul's dextrous hands that guitar sang a symphony. It was the perfect accompaniment to the sophisticated style of flamenco performed by Aylin and the two of them together owned the stage.
Forget cliched red ruffled dresses and thoughtless foot stomping. (It wouldn't be part of FRINGE WORLD if it wasn't a bit different!) Aylin's dance style was more measured and thoughtful. Her costumes were still beautiful, satin and lace were featured but there was also a costume change that challenged the regular notions of flamenco. In fact, that is exactly what this performance was all about. Castanets were left off the program and it didn't seem to matter because the power of the Spanish style guitar was more than enough instrumentally speaking.
Aylin has the ideal physique for flamenco, long graceful extensions yet powerful feet to stamp out intense rhythms. She was technically flawless. I didn't spot a single mistake. This is flamenco pared back. One dancer and one guitarist, yet powerful and mesmerising. They were both so good at what they do they didn't need props or special effects. Aylin appeared at different times during the performance but Raul was playing the guitar basically the whole time, he was amazing.
This is a Flamenco performance done differently and well worth experiencing! You can even take a bit of it home with Raul's music for sale after the show.