BEIJING, Jan. 16 -- "There was something strange and wild about her beauty. Her face astonished you, at first sight, but nobody could forget it." Rafael Aguilar's dance theater production "Carmen Flamenco" will be performed in Beijing from 21-23, January.

    Based on the story and music of Bizet’s masterpiece, "Carmen," Spanish choreographer Aguilar (1926-1995) has created a fascinating, erotic dance drama that fuses the expressionism of modern ballet with traditional Spanish dance. The audience will be drawn into a maelstrom of emotions: a hot mixture of flamenco and bolero, with subliminal dance scenes and sensual choreography.

    First Scene: The Square

    Don Jose: “It was a Friday I shall never forget…… taking the acacia blossom out of her mouth she flipped it at me with her thumb so that it hit me just between the eyes……”

    The gypsies sing and dance as a bourgeois family, accompanied by an almost regal ensemble of flautists, enters the square. Carmen is so outraged at this scene that she rips the fan out of the woman’s hand.

    The regiment advances for maneuvers and Carmen starts flirting with the soldiers. She provocatively throws a blossom clasped seductively between he lips towards Don Jose as a symbol of her fondness. Precisely at the same moment, the bell tolls summoning the cigar rollers to work.

    Second Scene: The Tobacco Factory

    A group of gypsies improvises a song and dance, while the women roll together the tobacco leaves into cigars on their thighs.

    Manolita, one of the workers, reminds her of the approaching wedding which will make a lady of her. She dreams of visiting the Easter Procession with her newly-wed husband, and of wearing a mantilla. The Virgin Mary is carried inside by two sinners, and a Saeta resounds (a song played during Lent processions).

    Carmen, blind with anger and jealousy, stands up, and throws herself upon Manolita, tears up her clothes, pulls a knife, and stabs her in the face. Manolita’s and Carmen’s girlfriends each form groups that confront each other violently. The fight ends upon the entry of the police officers, led by Don Jose. Carmen flirts with him and sways him to let her escape. Once again the gypsy managed to trick the much hated police.

    Third Scene: The Prison

    Don Jose behind bars: “I don’t know that girl ever spoke a word of truth in her life, but when she did speak, I believed her – I couldn’t help myself…”“and then ,in spite of myself, I used to smell the acacia blossom she had thrown at me, and which, dry as it was, still kept its sweet scent.”

    The old gypsy Dorotea, the voice of the oracle, sings the story of the Basque from Navarro, Don Jose.

    Don Jose is in prison for letting Carmen escape. Like his fellow inmates. Don Jose in his isolation abandons himself to his memories. He has kept the blossom Carmen threw at him in the square. He flees into an erotic dream in which he recalls the nights of love and tenderness he has spent with the beautiful gypsy.

    Fourth Scene: The Room

    Don Jose: “hat girl was good company, I can tell you! Evening fell, and I heard the drums beating tattoo…”

    On the same day Don Jose is discharged from prison he meets Carmen. The two go up to her room where she nearly drives Don Jose out of his mind. Beguiled by this woman’s seductive manner and the erotic energy she embodies, he nearly misses the roll call of the trumpet that brings him back to the reality of military life.

    Fifth Scene: The Tavern

    The gypsies saunter and sing with Dorotea while Carmen tries to charm Lieutenant Zuniga. She leads him to the tavern and asks him to mingle with the spectators. Carmen lures him with a beguiling dance, accompanied by the male fantasy of female eroticism. As soon as the sensual mood, whipped up by Carmen, reaches its climax, she throws herself into Zuniga’s arms.

(Source: chinaculture.org)