For the Love of Dance

The art of flamenco is a delicate thing. The dancer must be sensual — not over-the-top, in-your-face sexy. She should be confident and strong, but still a bit demure. And as nimble fingers caress the guitar strings providing the soundtrack for her movement, the dancer's fancy footwork should be staccato, yet the overall performance should have a fluidity to it, like the quick rhythm of breath. Indeed, flamenco is a difficult thing to master, but when done well, it can be beautifully mesmerizing and terribly romantic, which is certainly why the St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society presents Noche Flamenca! this evening, oh so very close to Valentine's Day. Held at the Ethical Society of St. Louis (9001 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights; www.stlculturalflamencosociety.org), this Spanish dance concert opens with a tapas reception at 7 p.m., followed by the dance performance at 8 p.m. You can choose to attend both portions of the evening ($40 to $45) or just the concert ($30 to $35), but either way, complimentary sangria and that lovin' feeling are yours.
Sat., Feb. 13, 2010