Logo





  About us
  Advertising
  Privacy
  Terms
  Directory
  Submit Feed
  Analytics
  Trending
  Bias
  Trust Ranking
  API

The Guardian // Lifestyle

Flamenco with kilts and genius moments – Compañía Manuel Liñán: Muerta de Amor review

Tuesday 3rd June 2025, 12:44PM

Sadler’s Wells, LondonThe Spanish dancer’s latest show with his all-male company is an eruption of pleasure, ego and neediness that is full of fantastic chemistryIt was Manuel Liñán’s last show ¡Viva! that made everyone sit up and take notice. In it, his all-male company were dressed in the full frills of traditional women’s flamenco dresses, pulling at the seams of the dance form’s carefully constructed gender roles. New work Muerta de Amor may have less overt a concept, but it’s still rich in originality, with a few genius moments (and he hasn’t completely jettisoned dresses). This time it’s out with the polka dots and in with sleek black fashiony takes on flamenco costume – sheer top, kilt-style skirt, long leather jacket. In power poses behind a row of mic stands the men look like a still-handsome boyband on their multimillion-dollar reunion tour.The show’s title might talk of the death of love, but desire – physical and emotional – are very much pulsatingly alive here, alongside vulnerability, angst, passion and humour. With Liñán, his six dancers and the band, is the mighty singer Mara Rey, who can blow your socks off with husky volume and dramatic chutzpah. But in this show, everyone sings, like a series of monologues (I say it every year, but with lyrics so central, some surtitles for non-Spanish speakers would be helpful).Part of the Flamenco festival, which continues at Sadler’s Wells, London, until 8 June Continue readin

Full Story