An old adage says that fascism is cured by reading, and nationalism by traveling. I would add that the latter, traveling, also cures us of pessimism. flamencoTake a peek into the auditorium of the London theater this Tuesday. Sadler's Wells TheatreA stage where the cream of the world's flamenco dance world performs, and seeing it filled with a predominantly British audience would be surprising if it weren't already commonplace. In major European capitals, one no longer has to wait, as in the past, for the top flamenco artists to come on tour: el flamenco It is a happily normalized fact.
In the case of London, much of that credit belongs to Miguel Marinwho has been defending that flag on English soil for four decades. But also, of course, the artists who, while shaking off their insecurities like the hair of the meadow, are capable of putting forward proposals of enormous stature. The Barcelona native Jesus Carmona He's one of those creators who can step onto any poster and set a very high bar; not just in one category. flamencobut by measuring itself against any other dancer in the world.
This is demonstrated from the beginning of United, the show that brought to Flamenco 2026 FestivalFrom the moment he appears on stage, bathed in the light of a spotlight that hides his face from us, it is clear that we are looking at a body born for this, moving his arms and legs with uncommon virtuosity, and revealing an equally extraordinary sense of time.
From that moment on, the montage will basically consist of a succession of scenes that cover a wide spectrum of palos, suitably defended by a singing trio as accomplished and diverse as the one they form Eleazar Cerreduela, Francisco Blanco and Jesús CorbachoThe cast is completed by the flamenco dancer Lucia Campillo and his usual guitarist, The Movie, whom this reporter recently saw embroidering it in the Esch Festival (Luxembourg) with the show Blessed are you.
"Jesús Carmona's approach is a radical commitment to dance. Do you want speed? He gives it to you. Precision? He has that too. Physical strength? Emotion? Depth? Vertigo? Tradition? Avant-garde? This complete dancer offers it all in abundance. What more could we want? For him to tell us a story?"
From Levante to the tangos, some superb fandangos danced on a tile, so to speak, to palo Dry in front of Eleazar Cerreduela… And from there to the chestnut vendor's cry intertwined with the snails, with a superb Lucía dancing in silhouette. The Murcian woman, very well supported by El Peli's accomplices on the guitar, reveals herself once again as a complete artist, as remarkable with the shawl as with the fan or the bells, and at one point it even seemed that she could rival Carmona himself for the spotlight.
However, the Barcelona native would soon reclaim his spotlight. After the evocation of Pepe Marchena Through the rosebushes of Charamusco, the vidalita and the milonga, with great display of the sweet and exciting voice of Jesús Corbacho, came some bulerías followed by a new solo jumping between five zenithal lights that were going out behind them, as a metaphor for life itself, which has no way back.
It was the only more or less narrative concession in a proposal that, as is usual in Carmona's productions, It dispenses with plot threads to focus on pure, unadulterated dance, in close dialogue with the cante and the touchEven the set design is reduced to a minimum so that nothing competes with his performance. The dancer certainly has a strong dance voice, although I'm convinced that some members of the audience... britishThe least knowledgeable among them would not have minded being given some story to help her cope better with the hour and a half of relentless performance.
But what Jesús Carmona does is, without a doubt, a radical commitment to dance. Do you want speed? He gives it to you. Precision? He has that too. Physical strength? Emotion? Depth? Vertigo? Tradition? Avant-garde? This complete dancer offers it all in abundance. What more could we want, a story to tell?
Credits
United, from the Jesús Carmona Dance Company
XLI Flamenco London festival
Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
16 June, 2026
Dance: Jesús Carmona, Lucía Campillo
Cante: Eleazar Cerreduela, Francisco Blanco
Guitar: José Manuel Martínez Muñoz, 'El Peli'
Guest singer: Jesús Corbacho
