(noticia) Flamenco superstar dominates 'Journey'

DANCE REVIEW

Ballet Flamenco (Photo by Luis Castilla)

BALLET FLAMENCO DE ANDALUCíA
Directed by Cristina Hoyos. Repeats tonight and tomorrow. Part of the World Music Institute's New York Flamenco Festival 2006, which continues through Sunday at City Center, West 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Tickets $30-$65. Call 212-581-1212 or visit www.nycity center.org. Seen at Tuesday preview.

BY APOLLINAIRE SCHERR
SPECIAL TO NEWSDAY

February 17, 2006

At 59, Cristina Hoyos, the female star of Carlos Saura's "Blood Wedding" and other major flamenco movies, still hasn't had enough of the limelight. In her current live show, "Journey to the South" - for the World Music Institute's usually outstanding annual flamenco festival - her ensemble of anonymous young acolytes gathers around her as if around the heroic statuary in a town square, clapping encouragement as she wreathes her beautiful arms around her broad, expressive face and occasionally stamps a foot.

The problem isn't that the old queen preens, but that almost no one else does. Flamenco originated with poor people; unlike ballet, which arose from the royal court, it is fundamentally unhierarchical. A performance may give pride of place to a clan's matriarchs and patriarchs, but everyone gets his time alone with the audience. The typical shape of a flamenco show - a string of solos by the troupe's various members - argues for the uniqueness of each embattled soul.

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