Raphael Carrasco He could have seized upon the pain and anger of the cigar makers and their demands to cling to power, as far as the flamenco It refers to the passionate inspiration that would have stirred in him the pellizcoIt is in its dance a beautiful and well-developed work in terms of plot, exquisite in its visuals, impeccably staged and magnificently illuminated by Gloria Montesinos.
It addresses the problems and struggles of this group in a way that hasn't been done before – thank you – not even in the musical aspect, where the pre-recorded passages and atmospheres move between folklore, lyricism, and... flamenco —and some electronics— combining the voices of the soprano Marta Estal and that of the flamenco singer Gem Knight, whose versatility and range wander along the tangent of the melismas that are customary in the flamencoI mean, to this critic it sounds watered down, no matter how much he insists on throwing himself into the heart-rending cry of the fandangos of Huelva, giving it his all, or performing a memorable guajira hybridized with The Habanera.
La Carmen Rafaela's approach is not the overused and clichéd one of Meriméenor that of BizetAlthough he relies on his music to create valuable recreations of original compositions that embrace each of the pieces, with nods to Emilia Pardo Bazán and to the chotis The Colasa. All in Smoke It is meticulously thought out and extensively crafted, with an impeccable sense of neatness. Rafaela, National Dance AwardHe surrounds himself with the very best to deliver a perfect creation that fits any large-scale stage that knows how to appreciate the quality of this production, which could well tour halfway around the world, showcasing, let's say, the ideal vision, this time for sure, of Carmen And the cigar makers, to emphasize the social aspect and the vicissitudes of the lives of those thousands of women mistreated at work who came to demonstrate with scissors and cobblestones to fight for their rights.
Although we see her alone on several occasions, she predominates in Smoke its choreographic facet – superb, polished – and the weight of the fabulous corps de ballet, composed of Carmen Coy, Nazareth Olive, Cristina San Gregorio, Alejandra Gudí, Júlia Gimeno y Paula Bolaños. Without problems to the dramaturgy of Álvaro Tato, the appropriate attire or the sound environment of Paul Martin Jones, who participates alongside the guitarist Jesus Torres in musical composition, in addition to Gema, Marta and Isidora O'Ryan, who is listed as a cello player.
"That Rafaela dances to the nines is no longer in question, especially when we see her on the wooden beams showing off in the traditional style of the flamencoThis is something else entirely: brilliant, conceptualized, and committed creative musings. Bravo, too!
After premiering in Slaughterhouse (Madrid), Rafaela is warmly received at La Maestranza in Seville, with the arena practically full on a Sunday afternoon. And rightly so, because her dancing has a real pull. Rafaela has become a contemporary classical flamenco dancer, however paradoxical that association may seem.
The theater box appeared black and bare. The elements were simple, straightforward, and carefully arranged to simulate a factory at night or dawn, illuminated by the lights of the female employees. Industrial lights hung from the ceiling, the large window of the Seville Tobacco Factory, and the choirs and dances that enlivened their hard work were choreographed and evoked on the chairs. Palmas And gestures with touches on their arms in a mechanical jumble that mimicked their chores. The smoking breaks, the demonstrations and fiery speeches, the unionism, the sorrows and joys during the long days, the hard-won wages, the women's networks, their strength and weaknesses, the liberated woman, the unleashed woman, their restrained silences, their endurance and their cries. Too many details condensed into different moments, making up just over an hour, which means that some parts are not fully understood or get lost in the concatenation with what follows..
That Rafaela dances to perfection is no longer in question, especially when we see her on the wooden platform showing off her traditional skills. flamencoThis is something else entirely: brilliant, conceptualized, and committed creative musings. Bravo, too.
This new work brings coherence even to the feelings it evokes in me: Smoke It is that ethereal gaseous suspension, which lasts little time, fades away, is confusing, soft, dispersed, sometimes imprecise, yet beautiful, feels and breathes warm, is perfect in its nature, Whimsical yet orderly, and though it neither heats nor burns, it's always a pleasure to behold. Just between you and me: it lacks substance..
Credits
Smoke, by Rafaela Carrasco
Teatro de la Maestranza, Seville.
May 24th 2026
Choreography and direction: Rafaela Carrasco
Dance: Rafaela Carrasco, Carmen Coy, Nazaret Oliva, Cristina San Gregorio, Alejandra Gudí, Júlia Gimeno, Paula Bolaños
Guitar: Jesús Torres
Chelo: Isidora O'Ryan
Flamenco voice: Gema Caballero
Lyrical voice: Marta Estal
