Flamenco superstar Eva Yerbabuena is one of Spain's best-kept secrets. After appearing in movies directed by filmmaker Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) and performing in festivals with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Pina Bausch, Yerbabuena is considered to be one of the world's premier flamenco artists.
The world of flamenco has known about Yerbabuena since she started her company in 1998. She has won numerous awards, creating a style of flamenco that is traditional and soulful. Yerbabuena is known for stripping flamenco down to its essentials, creating a style that emphasizes its intimacy and abhors sensationalism. "The new flamenco does not exist," she has said. "Everything has already been invented in flamenco, it encompasses all the human emotions. You make it modern by revealing yourself, not with embellishments. What's difficult is revealing yourself."
In the beginning, Yerbabuena kept a low profile while more visible flamenco artists grabbed the spotlight. She even describes herself as "timid," and was reluctant to pursue a career outside Seville, where she resides. Though Seville is known for being the flamenco capital of the world, Yerbabuena didn't receive much recognition until she won Spain's most important award, the Premio Nacional de Danza in 2001.
In the art world, many of Yerbabuena's contemporaries have acknowledged her skill. American choreographer William Forsythe has said, "She inspired me to use more heart and less intellect." After featuring her in his documentary Flamenco Women, Figgis said, "She is an extraordinary artist, she won't disappoint."
Somewhat reclusive, Yerbabuena gave an extensive interview to Fermin Lobaton at the Flamenco World website (www.flamenco-world.com). When asked about developing her style of flamenco, Yerbabuena said, "You learn from others, from accomplished artists and from unknowns, and I've had the good fortune always to be surrounded by people who taught me, both in the artistic sense and in the personal, the flamenco which I now express on stage."
When describing her work, critics have been impressed with her duende, a soulful quality found in skilled flamenco dancers, as well as her aggressive footwork and elegant upper body. Yerbabuena is also known for incorporating theatrical elements into her work, making her work accessible to a larger audience. "It's no secret that I'm very interested in theater." Flamenco is still her first priority. "Dance is the basic instrument at my disposition for expressing feelings. Flamenco is the best vehicle to say what I want to say. It's so rich and versatile, and at the same time technical, and it's unsettling. I don't see any limits."
An important part of creating flamenco is the unique relationship between musician and dancer performing together. Its improvisational nature creates the visceral quality that flamenco is known for. "For me, there's an odd and fundamental thing about flamenco, which is the possibility of playing around with improvisation. It's the expression of the moment and it depends on your state of mind, but it doesn't solely depend on you. You've got seven people [musicians] behind you, and they're going to see to it that there's a balance between you and them. There's infinite leeway. They're the one's who start out giving the orders, and you give them to the audience, and the audience gives them back to you."
Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena, December 8 & 9 at 8 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley. Tickets ($24-$48): (510) 642-9988 or www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.