Spanish dancers to perform at NCPA

Dance enthusiasts in the city can enjoy a foot-tapping, skirt-swirling evening on Wednesday as a troupe of six flamenco artistes perform at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). The troupe - comprising three dancers, two musicians and a singer - will stage Antologia Flamenca, a sequence of dances that demonstrates the history and evolution of flamenco, an ancient Spanish dance form now popular around the world.

Dance enthusiasts in the city can enjoy a foot-tapping, skirt-swirling evening on Wednesday as a troupe of six flamenco artistes perform at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). The troupe - comprising three dancers, two musicians and a singer - will stage Antologia Flamenca, a sequence of dances that demonstrates the history and evolution of flamenco, an ancient Spanish dance form now popular around the world. The event has been organised by the Consulate General of Spain and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations as a part of the Spanish National Day celebrations on October 12.

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"The piece has been specially choreographed for the India tour because we want people here to know more about this dance and take it up," said Iratxe Pazos, the troupe's manager.

Though flamenco caught the world's fancy only in the past 60 years, Antalogia Flamenca will reveal how it's history dates back to more than five centuries ago when it was popular in Andalusia, Spain, as a celebratory dance for private occasions.

"Some say flamenco's origins actually lie in Indian gypsy culture from Rajasthan," said Victoria Romero, cultural head at the Spanish Consulate.

The troupe will also hold two public workshops at the NCPA -one on flamenco dance on October 13 and one on flamenco guitar on October 14.