-3-

The next night, I saw Sara and Eli in the company performance and their work ethic was evident in their performance as the most impressive display of physical female dance power I have ever witnessed. The two women small, yet muscular in build, appeared center stage flanked on either side by a guitarist and a cantaora. It created a type of corral in its linear set up, with the two dancers dancing between the two rows of musicians. The two women dressed in fire engine red satin dresses, danced together, circling around each other as wolves staking out their territory. Moments later the piece became a classic "dance-off", Eli the more petite of the two, taking the first shot at it. She was liquid and crisp, lifting her skirt to show her red shoes quickly igniting in brilliant triple time sequences. Her solo went on for so long I thought that it was the whole piece, and Susi had backed off upstage only to play palmas for Eli. But I was mistaken; now it was Susi's turn, and she came out full and gutsy. She danced sharply during the cante and commanded the guitarist with fierce attack of her footwork. Both women must have danced at least 15 minutes of nonstop footwork each in addition to their duet. Their chests heaved and the dresses appeared to drip off their bodies with perspiration. But, the majesty, stamina, power and feminism they portrayed in their dance filled me with awe, inspiration and a little healthy envy. These women have crossed the portal of tradition into the realm of pure physical ferocity. I am always one to focus on emotional and artistic expression in dance, but my hat is off to these two forces of nature, and if they are the harbingers of contemporary Flamenco, I await the feats of physicality to come with anticipation.