‘Fallen from Heaven’ (‘Caída del Cielo’) is how I would describe the choreographer and dancer Rocío Molina – she is one of a kind – ‘legendary’ from her earliest days – she is a gift to us from Heaven.

 

However, her production Caída del Cielo (Fallen from Heaven) is connected to heaven in a different way, that of a fallen angel, with all the duality of the opposing forces of nature: the beautiful and pure alongside the dark, dirty and distraught, reflecting on the nature of humans and our earthly struggles.

The UK première of Caída del Cielo (Fallen from Heaven) is at the Barbican, London from Thursday 12 October–Saturday 14 October 2017 as part of the Dance Umbrella Festival – the annual London International Dance Festival. Tickets

Caída del Cielo is contemporary and provocative but witty and multilayered in its expression – built on driving flamenco rhythms, combined with electronic music and historic rock music meltdowns.

We watched Rocío Molina – completely absorbed as she moved and danced and created expressive shapes with her arms, her hands, her feet, her toes and her body – we watched her as she watched us, appealing to us be involved.

Here is a teaser of Caída del Cielo:

 

The style of interaction between the four musicians and the dancer was traditionally flamenco, with the dancer’s every move in absolutely synchronised. Flamenco was at the core of the music: there were tangos, a fin de fiesta style bulerias and unaccompanied flamenco singing (José Ángel Carmona, flamenco singing and electric bass) and inspired flamenco guitar playing, but there was also rock music, distortion pedals (Eduardo Trassierra, flamenco and electric guitar) and electronic music (Pablo Martín Jones, percussion and electric music), accompanied by flamenco jaleo (shouts of encouragement), palmas (rhythmic clapping) and pitas (finger clicks) from José Manuel Ramos ‘Oruco’, rafagas of rhythm from her zapateado (footwork) when she wore her flamenco shoes and teasing syncopations – and that essential ingredient of all music – silence.

There was a great sense of joy in the interaction of Rocío Molina and the musicians; their expressiveness and technical brilliance carries with it a hint of humour and self-awareness that at times moved into momentary self-mockery. All of life’s emotions were expressed in this 90-minute work of art, which was visually beautiful, musically and emotionally moving – it will stay with you in your heart and mind.

The Uk première of Caída del Cielo from Thursday 12 October–Saturday 14 October 2017 Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS Tickets

Rocío Molina Cruz (b. 1984) from Malaga is a flamenco dancer and choreographer who has been, in her own words, ‘always searching for the limits of flamenco‘, but at her core is all the technique and tradition of the flamenco dance at its very best. As a dancer, she is a powerhouse of energy. Her performance costumes range from dancing in just a bra and pants, to the complexities of dancing with the flamenco bata de cola. Her dressing and undressing are an outer expression of the deep restlessness and creativity energy that drive her on – an essential ingredient found in all legendary flamenco performers.

Caída del Cielo was premièred in Paris in November 2016 at the Théâtre National de la Dance Chaillot. It is co-directed with her long-time collaborator, the dramatist Carlos Marquerie, with whom she has worked since 2009. Rocío Molina presented her Bosque Ardora in Dance Umbrella’s 2014 festival at the Barbican, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination.

© Thérèse Wassily Saba 2017