Authentic Flamenco Sound and Dance delight the Arts House

Photo courtesy of La Joaquina

Flamenco Express. Authentic Flamenco Sound and Dance performed at The Rother Street Arts House, Friday 19 June 2026.

Review by Charles Essex

Artistic Director of the newly-opened Rother Street Arts House, John-Robert Partridge (JP), has organised an eclectic programme of guests and acts and theatrical performances. JP cast his net widely and brought one of the foremost Flamenco groups to Stratford.  The highly talented and experienced Flamenco Express brought the genuine taste of Flamenco, the traditional dance form from Andalucia, to this appreciative audience.

In a very astute move, the performance was in the large bar-foyer area, with bar tables and chairs surrounding the tap boards that the dancers performed on.  This gave a very intimate and authentic feel to the evening, as Flamenco is traditionally performed in homes and small bars.  The singing in Flamenco is as much part of the art as dancing and guitar playing, and the evening started with guitarist Chris Clavo accompanying Antonio El Pola, as the latter sang.  The rich guttural singing communicated the passion from the Gypsy heritage behind Flamenco, with Noé Barrosso and La Joaquina accompanying rhythmic, known as palmas. 

La Joaquina then performed a vigorous solo dance, with passion that belied her seemingly delicate body.  She used her skirt to full effect in the movements, sometimes tightly wrapped and at others flung loosely.

The acoustics of the bar area were ideal for the precise and harsh steps, and her facial expressions conveyed the emotional intensity.  Noé, on his UK debut, then danced a solo that matched La Joaquina but his pinstripe suit gave the dance a formality contrasting with the intensity of his movements.

After the interval, La Joaquina appeared in a trouser suit, highlighting her slim physique. This piece started in a gentler way but built the pace and emotional force.  Chris played a beautifully nuanced and skilful solo.  Throughout, his playing was faultless, varying the rhythms, dynamics and passion.  He evoked the dusty streets of a small village in Andalucia and the slow pace of life under the hot sun of southern Spain.

Noé returned and danced with sharp staccato heel strikes and energetic movements conveying the power of his feelings, while La Joaquina and Antonio kept perfect rhythm with clapping.  Noé performed a dance that was clearly joyous as his facial expression showed an obvious happiness.  As a finale, Noé and La Joaquina danced a short amusing duet as she enticed him to hollow her off stage.

JP is to be complimented for staging work that gives alternative music and theatrical forms to the usual tribute bands and stand-up comedians and bodes well for increasing the variety of the future Stratford’s art scene.