Zakharef in Motion Festival kicked on the night of April 12th at the Hussein Cultural Center with a show by renowned flamenco dancer Rocio Molina.
Born in Málaga in 1984 Rocio started dancing as early as age three, when she began her professional training, completing her career in 2002 at the Real Conservatorio de Danza de Madrid, graduating with full marks.
With this in the back of my head I went in with high expectations of watching a one of a kind performance from such a young dancer. And I did.
I dragged my friends to the hall to arrive just time before the entire hall was full. Amman’s cultural scene is growing so fast nowadays that arriving half an hour before a cultural event is not enough to get a seat.
As usual, the Spanish guitarists started the evening by playing a few tunes preparing for the introduction of the dancer. But what was unusual was that the stage was beautifully decorated with what seemed like a side of a bedroom. A hung red dress, a dresser with a mirror, a chair and a spot light transferred us to a personal private space that the dancer used so profoundly in her different dances.
Rocio started off with her hair on her shoulders; wearing nothing like a flamenco dress, she began to move her body on stage in a modern –flamenco manner. She indeed gave the audience what they were looking for; transitioning us from mood to mood, romance to anger, and solitude to liberation.
What was highly fascinating to me was that it was the first time I see a performer change on stage. This solo artist used the props on stage as if in her own dressing room with confidence and tranquility. We saw her tie her hair up, dress in different outfits, until she slipped into a typical red flamenco dress that fit her beautifully. She ended her final act by dressing in the outfit she first performed in, faded the spotlight of her bare dressing room and left the stage, in a sense telling us that her mission is done.
A very unique show, presented by an impressive and courageous dancer, unlike anything I’ve seen before by a flamenco dancer. She had a good mix of contemporary art with the traditional Spanish culture.
Rating: 8/10
Watch Rocio Molina here.
To find out more about Zakharef In Motion nights click here.
