Rich in cultural meaning and full of passion, I felt every part of this show -such is the power of duende
Presented by: Danza Molina S.L
Reviewed: 28February, 2025
Caída del Cielo is a powerful flamenco performance where the rhythms, percussion, and music are flawlessly in sync with Rocío Molina. She incorporates clapping across her body, dramatic torso movements, and seamless posture shifts, alternating between control and abandon. The storytelling comes alive as her dance is (at times) aided by the rich and deep voice of Kiko Peña, whose vocal depth enhances her movement.
Rocío Molina’s journey into dance started at the age of three. By 17 she had graduated (with Honors) from the Royal Dance Conservatory in Madrid, debuting her first work Entre paredes (Among the Walls) at 22. Since then, she has created numerous works that go beyond the traditional limits of flamenco, skillfully displaying the best of flamenco but completely in her own way.
The Spanish Ministry of Culture describes it best. When giving her the National Award for Dance it was for “her contribution to the renewal of flamenco and for her versatility and strength as a performer capable of handling the most diverse registers with freedom and courage.”
Rocío Molina is an intense performer, and she also seems to have an insurmountable amount of energy; it did not waver for the entire ninety minutes of Caída del Cielo. As an audience member you don’t really watch her – you feel her. Every movement – even those of rigid posture – is charged with emotional depth, including when she fuses in contemporary dance elements. Even if you have zero knowledge of flamenco, the skills required to deliver such a sophisticated performance are obvious.
Molina’s stamping footwork and the deep attunement between her, the singers, and the guitarists are as impressive as the speed of her footwork. The communication that happens through footwork and clapping, and sometimes music, is mesmerising to witness. Most notably the connection between her and handclapping and beating percussionist José Manuel Ramos “Oruco”. The entire ensemble includes music from guitarist Oscar Lago, with vocalist Kiko Pena (also) on electric bass, and percussion and electronics by Pablo Martin Jones. Together, they convey emotion, occasional humour, and story through movement and sound.
Molina displayed multiple flamenco styles (palos) and as she took us through her story, you can appreciate that each member of the team is talented in their own right. My guest for the evening, who lived in Spain a few decades ago during a gap year, was taken back to their stay. They could see both the religious elements and cultural elements – like some postures where you can see her fighting bulls, descending into depravity in a religious sense, and then rising up again. Gripping.
Caída del Cielo itself is about the highs and lows of being a woman transformed. Rich in symbolism, there are displays of rigidity and fluidity, control and surrender. I found the descent to be raw, while the celebration of womanhood was freeing and powerful. I felt like I couldn’t look away for 90 minutes. I am not sure whether I would have preferred a short interval to ease the intensity, although, if I compare it to watching a thriller at the cinema it’s best to remain rooted to the spot as any break in the spell would spoil it. You know it is a compelling piece when only a handful of performers are able to captivate the audience for such a long time. I should also add, there are definitely some unexpected parts, which adds to the intrigue.
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
Photo credit: Simone Fratini
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Season: ended
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes (no interval)
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