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A dollop of flamboyance and a touch of class

There is a glimmer in her eyes each time she speaks of her native land — Spain. Her gait exudes an artist’s confidence and her celebrated ‘endless arms’ rise and fall

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There is a glimmer in her eyes each time she speaks of her native land — Spain. Her gait exudes an artist’s confidence and her celebrated ‘endless arms’ rise and fall each time she makes a statement. The eloquence of a flamenco dancer reveals itself in Maria Pages who was in town recently to popularise the dance.

How has your stay in India been?
I have been visiting Japan, New York and France — but India is special. When my company informed me about this trip I was ecstatic. For years, I had been curious about India and its cultural diversities. I was finally going to be a part of it, even if it was only for 10 days.

Tell us a little about the Flamenco
I consider it to be one of the richest dances in the world with influences from the Arabs, Jews and Christians. It’s more like a creative fusion of art forms. Having a history of more than 150 years, it has evolved as a popular art form. Many theorists even believe that it has elements of Indian culture in its movements. After all, this country has a vast dancing history.

Every flamenco production, with seven scenes, has a story to tell. It’s aesthetically different, theatrically sentimental, and rhythmically special.

Do you follow any Indian dances?
I love the classical elements in Kathak and Kucchipudi. I watched Shobhana Narayan in Delhi and fell in love with this ancient classical act. I want to know a lot more about these and other Indian dance forms; I hope I can do so when I visit next time.

Do you think Mumbai can adapt easily to this dance form?
People here are hardly aware of this art form. They may be familiar with other dance forms like salsa and ballet, but their knowledge of the flamenco is minimal. But I appreciate their inquisitiveness and enthusiasm.

I may sound cynical, but it’s not going to be easy for Mumbaikars to learn this dance form. The percussive footwork, the hand movements — they have to be very intricate.
This dance is very deep in its movements. The progressive emotions from humour to melancholy need to come naturally.
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