On Saturday November 9, at the 3,000 seat Segerstrom Center for the Arts, they opened their doors and heart to an exquisite offering from Spain, The Sergio Bernal Dance Company. Being newly introduced to Southern California, the house was not yet overflowing, but the curious and lovers of Spanish dance and ballet, were expectant, yet not force-fed. They were allowed to be seduced by the fire of this brilliant young artist and his company.
Sergio Bernal – Photo by Massimo Danza.
As the lights dimmed, a hush moves over the audience. That very moment a stark spot discovers, alone on stage, the slim proud and arched figure and classic face of Sergio Bernal. With dark hair slicked back, and dressed in white open neck shirt, beaded mauve vest and classic tight black pants. Draped over his shoulder and falling to the floor around him is a flaming red cape. Slowly he draws the cape around him, then into the air. He begins the rhythmic heel work of the Farruca to music by Manuel de Falla’s (Three Cornered Hat) choreographed by Antonia Ruiz Soler. Bernal’s powerful presence, and extraordinary versatility introduces form, integrating the rhythmic zapateado (heel work), Floreo (arms), Palmas (hand clapping) and Pitos (finger snapping) of Flamenco, the lyricism and strength of tour en l’air, and double pirouettes in Ballet, and melding with the Sevillanas of Spanish Dance. Throughout the evening, he and his company, challenges purism to combine both technique and excitement of the expertise and amalgam of each form.
Sergio Bernal Dance Company – Photo courtesy of the artists
The company of extraordinary dancers, Sergio Bernal, Cristina Cazorla and Carlos Romero, and musicians, Daniel Jurado (guitarist and composer) Desire Parades (Vocalist) and Javier Valdunciel (percussion) succeed in intoxicating the viewers with stories told through sensual and passionate dance, music and theatre craft, costuming and lighting (Antonio Colarotuolo) showing their brilliant technique by melding styles together that are difficult enough to master singularly.
Sergio Bernal Dance Company – Miriam Mendoza and Sergio Bernal in “The Last Encounter” – Photo by Yoon6photo, courtesy of The Segerstrom Center.
The exciting counter point to Bernal’s fearless and dramatic work is Romero’s excellence and fire together in Racheo choreographed by Sergio Bernal with music by José Manuel Benitez; and Romero’s solo sensational piece Zapateado de Sarasota. Cristina Cazorla’s dramatic and sensual story telling blended with the chilling vocals of Desire Parades’ Cante Flamenco and queijo, embraces the two and unfolds a moving tale of separation and passion.
Sergio Bernal in “Bassa Soluzione” – Photo courtesy of The Segerstrom Center,
The wisdom and artful skill shaping the evening was the combined effort and vision of Artistic Director, Ricardo Cue, with Sergio Bernal. Cue’s training in Havana, Madrid and New York, having collaborated with the greats of our time; Balanchine, Tudor, Graham and Ailey, courageously broke with tradition. One of the highlights of the evening was his careful crafting and choreographing of a stunning version of The Swan by Camile Saint-Saens performed by Bernal himself. Dressed in skin tight briefs, it allowed each quiver of his body to express the lyricism of this classic piece first done by the great Anna Pavlova, the turn-of-the-century ballerina, and followed by the incomparable Plisetskaya. Bernal’s beauty and sensitivity struck the audience with emotional responses which were silenced as the body, limp and struggling, descending to its last dying breath.
Sergio Bernal in “The Swan” – Photo by Gramilano .
Each piece of the evening was so well done with styles that are hardly ever seen combined together with such expertise. The forms, so artistic yet technical, were able to hold the audience in rapture for an hour and a half with no intermission.
The Sergio Bernal Dance Company must be seen again, hopefully returning to thrill the Southern California audiences. This was a truly important and innovative evening of incredible dance, music and storytelling, that has pushed and united the boundaries of dance. Thank you Segerstrom for fearlessly hosting such an important company, hopefully to return to Southern California soon.
Here are two trailers of The Sergio Bernal Company (aka SER)
https://youtu.be/Ti6_llW_vE4?si=Yq0UsDQayt39N_vM
https://youtu.be/7oPRytMNA_E?si=iqOhh6_fMqrJgoMf
LADC interview with Sergio Bernal by Ann Haskins: https://www.ladancechronicle.com/flamenco-and-beyond-sergio-bernal-and-the-colorful-palette-of-spanish-dance/
For more information about The Sergio Bernal Dance Company (aka SER), please visit their website.
To learn more about The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, please visit their website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Sergio Bernal – Photo by Massimo Danza.
