Ay, Flamenco: Yaelisa and Domingo August 23, 2003

Yes, we have crowned her Yoga Yaelisa. We are thoroughly amazed that there are people in the flamenco genre who have the ability to make one's mind wander during their performance. We were talking to another flamenca concerning Yoga Yaelisa's artistry. Yes, it is a type of artistry - it's the type of artistry that we call "and I also perform flamenco." Yes, she has exquisite arms; yes, she has exceptional hands, and yes, her upper body line is beautiful, but flamenco isn't about looking pretty - it must have some inner strength, or power that can move you. Partly, the problem may be that her footwork has not power, no emphasis; there's no demand to pay attention - it just meanders aimlessly. California flamenco - that's what we call it, and it doesn't work for us. It's like elevator music. Besides, her routine was so set that the guitarist doesn't even pay attention while she's dancing. What more can I say?

Now, Domingo - he is exactly the opposite. There's thunder in his footwork, and there is a powerful style to his presentation. We watch his hands, and the graceful, poetic movement of his torso, and we see before us a flamenco Fred Astaire - someone who knows and understands himself as a dancer. At this particular performance, he even performed a charming Alegrias that had no guitar, with only palmas, and singing. Considering the weak percussion, he was able to pull it off - to a certain extent. The palmeros, in this solo, were weak and obviously confused, and did nothing to support his artistry. In both solos, it was obivious that he had to choreograph his dance to their musical abilities; thus, his ability to improvise his flamenco art was constrained by the limitations of the musicians themselves. At the ending of his Solea, when he was leaving the stage, the India drum sound, disastrously, gave it a comedic affect. It is difficult to achieve "duende" when your accompanists can not follow your inspiration in dancing. When Domingo dances, he is so whimsical; you can feel the delight from the audience. The audience knows, and recognizes that Domingo is something special - there is this electrical energy that permeates among the crowd. We know that there are other young, and upcoming flamencos, and yes, we've seen quite a few of them, but Domingo has a rare talent - he can, and does make flamenco beautiful, yet strong - and that makes all the difference.