Emotions sizzle with Noche Flamenca

What is flamenco? A cry from the soul. An extended lament.

It is the expression of pure emotion, channeled through that which generates it: the human body.

Noche Flamenca, the esteemed Spanish touring company, skillfully balanced extroverted spectacle with the introverted brooding, angst, anger and joy that fuels flamenco.

The troupe, led by the intensely elegant Soledad Barrio, offered a receptive Spoleto audience a traditional rendering of an art form that has its origins in India, from which the Roma people began their long migration across Asia and Europe, stopping along the way to absorb local cultures and practices.

In the south of Spain, members of semi-independent gypsy communities gathered in bars and public squares to sing. This is how flamenco began, with the solo voice. Later, guitars were added to provide structure and rhythm, to intensify the guttural expressions of the singer.

Later still, dancers joined in. This was music and dance originally meant to be shared among performers, among those who understood the origins of the grief or jealousy or fear or pride on display.

Noche Flamenca's three dancers, two guitarists and two singers excelled at sustaining flamenco's essential dialogue — between the artist and his colleagues, between the artist and his soul, between the artist and God or the dead or lost loves. DancersJose Suárez "El Torombo" and Juan Fernandez displayed the fast footwork and stomping that gets spectators' blood flowing.

Barrio was quick on her feet, too, adding to the ensemble performance a woman's determined sentiment and sensual turns. Fine guitar work was provided by Salva de Laria and Juan Antonio Suarez "Cano." The singers, Manuel Gago and Emilio Florido, expertly put words to emotions.

The contrast between sinewy and firm, graceful and forceful heightened the extreme nature of flamenco. Emotion accumulated from within the musicians and dancers until it could no longer be contained; then it burst forth.

Flamenco, I noticed, is never performed smiling.

Editor's note: Due to a program change, the names of the dancers were incorrect in earlier versions of this story. The dancers on Friday night were Jose Suárez 'El Torombo' and Juan Fernandez. The Post and Courier regrets the error.