Rocío Molina Al Fondo Riela 

at Sadler’s Wells Theatre Tuesday 4 June 2024

Rocio Molina opened the 19th annual Flamenco Festival London at Sadler’s Wells giving an outstanding performance of Al Fondo Riela (Lo Otro del Uno) with the full house rising for a standing ovation and much vocalised appreciation! Rocío Molina’s ability to penetrate deeply into the souls of her audience through dance and choreography is what one has come to anticipate from all her performances, and yet the path she takes always feels fresh and previously unexplored. 

In Al Fondo Riela (Lo Otro del Uno) (It Glimmers in the Depths: The Other of the One), everything is parred down to simple stage set, but the effects she creates using reflection on water-like surfaces, shadows and silhouettes establish the parameters on which she builds her choreography, as well as the music provided by two guitarists, Óscar Lago and Fran Vinuesa.

At the opening, we hear a solo guitar with a beautiful tremolo played by Óscar Lago, positioned at the side of the stage. In the centre is a large square surface, so black that it appears to be a deep square hole or the surface of still water, but then Molina appears and begins to walk slowly across this surface into the centre. The black surface completely reflects her imagine in full colour, as she appears to be walking across water. At the same time, two silhouettes of her are projected onto the back wall: as she moves forwards, her two silhouettes are each exiting separately, one stage left and one stage right. Her movements play with these elements and the sense of the Other being a strong part of the One – both here and later when the silhouettes are once more used with three almost superimposed figures, but each set in a different colour.

All the while, she interacts with the guitar music and with the guitarists. The back screen changes to a video of gently undulating water and her body sways to its rhythm also. We watch the ever-changing shapes of the water’s surface and Rocío Molina’s liquid flowing movements and dance, which are continuously changing, sometimes evolving as if we are watching are flower coming into bloom. She writhes, twists, bends and dances, with the movement  always flowing and always responding to the guitarist with a tight rhythmic pulse expressed through her feet, her fingers clicking. We sometimes see only her face or her remarkable hands which move with the lightness of seaweed gently nudged by the ebb and flow of water. 

Al Fondo Riela is the second and central part of a trilogy – Trilogía sobre la guitarra – that Rocío Molina has created to explore the guitar as an essential element in flamenco; it is an intimate interaction between the flamenco dancer and flamenco guitarists and the elements of nature and with one’s self. The first part of the trilogy – Inicio (Uno) – was performed with music by the flamenco guitarist Rafael Riqueni. At Sadler’s Wells, the two guitarists in Al Fondo Riela, Óscar Lago and Fran Vinuesa created beautiful music and silences, and the interactions with Rocío Molina were an exciting artistic exchange.

Rocío Molina’s costumes play an important role in her performance and equally, she performed exquisitely with a traditional bata de cola. As her final persona, dressed in a floral outfit, covering every part of her body, including her face, she walks to the front of the stage and watches the audience, as they watch her, waiting for her next move. She continues to watch and then lets out seemingly uncontrolled bursts of giggles here and there. What does it mean? While we were still pondering, she returns to centre stage and begins to remove some of her outfit, first one glove, then the other, then the head mask – we forget the giggling and move our expectations to a slow striptease and now wonder what she will be revealing – but no. She has reached the end; she will guide us no further on this soul-searching journey through dance. We must find our own way now; she leaves us, but the pain of separation is eased by the playing of the two guitars as the heavy curtain falls.

Flamenco Festival London 2024 continues until 15 June 2024 with:

Vicente Amigo is performing on Wednesday 5 June 2024 at 7.30pm: Tickets

Patricia Guerrero and Alfonso Losa presenting Alter Ego on Thursday 6 June 2024, 7.30pm. Tickets

Eva Yerbabuena presenting Yerbagüena (bright dark) on Friday and Saturday 7–8 June 2024, 7.30pm (and 3pm Saturday). Tickets

flamenco singer Israel Fernández with guitarist Diego del Morao presenting Pura Sangre on Sunday 9 June 2024, 7.30pm. Tickets

David Coria & David Lagos Company present ¡Fandango! on Monday 10 June 2024, 7.30pm. Tickets

Ballet Nacional de España, directed by Rubén Olmo present Invocación on Wednesday–Saturday 12–15 June 2024, 7.30pm (and 3pm Saturday). Tickets

 Sarah Jiménez presents Ave de Plata (Silver Bird) on Friday 14 June 2024, 6pm. Tickets

Florencia Oz & Isodora O’Ryain Saturday 15 June 2024, 6pm. Tickets

María José Llergo presents her second album Ultrabelleza Saturday 15 June 2024, 8.30pm. Tickets

for full programme: Flamenco Festival London 2024

Flamenco Festival London 2024 with Director Miguel Marín, is at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4TN. Ticket Office Tel. 020 7863 8000, sadlerswells.com

© Thérèse Wassily Saba 2024