Flamenco at Torres Bermejas

Robert Abrams
September 10, 2004

The Flamenco show at Torres Bermejas (located at Mesonero Romano, 11 in Madrid, Spain, Telephone: 91 532 33 22 or 91 531 03 53) begins with a slow tempo presentation of each dancer. Very deliberate. Ornate dÈcor surrounds a solid looking thrust stage. A woman in orange comes alive after dancing her solo. A woman in blue - the force of her motion propels into the audience as she comes to a full stop. Subtle horizontal isolations accent her energy that is driven into the floor. Her whole body vibrates. Energetic group numbers use the whole stage. A man dances in a formal costume. His feet are very fast. He is joined by a woman. They make soft thunder. All of the dancers have articulate hands. The show is a series of short presentations, with each presentation composed of several sequences of quiet preparation followed by strong attack. Dinner starts at about 9:30 pm and runs until about 1 am. The cost is 65 to 75 Euros for dinner and the show, somewhat less for drinks and the show.

Flamenco is cool once you start listening closely because the dancers keep rhythms with multiple parts of their body. Often, the parts of the body, when combined, form a poly-rhythmic whole. For instance, the man's extremities were moving like crazy, but his center was completely still, or nearly so. His feet and legs were practically flying out behind him. Another time, one of his legs was still and the other swept and tapped embellishments around it.

The dancers and musicians at Torres Bermejas have talent that builds over the course of the full dinner (which is saying something because the full dinner includes a generous progression of courses). The food was good. The price includes generous drinks and coffee that will keep you libated all night long.

Flamenco at Torres Bermejas in Madrid
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams