There was no dearth of duende -- soul -- at the Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, when "Forever Flamenco: L.A. Ole!" took the chill off the night air. Produced by the Fountain Theatre's godmother of flamenco, Deborah Lawlor, the 2 1/2 -hour show sizzled with 10 singers, dancers and musicians.
Unlike Hollywood, which worships at the altar of youth, flamenco operates in a reverse ageism universe, revering maturity, as evidenced in Roberto Amaral. Exuding authority at 60, the gray-bearded Los Angeles treasure offered balletic turns, whole body quiverings and an astonishing exit whereby he moved backward on the sides of his feet in his solo, "A Mi Manera."
On the flip side is Timo Nunez, 25. A local heartthrob who's strut his stuff on Fox's TV show "So You Think You Can Dance," the tall, reed-thin performer could star on a Versace catwalk. Preening and posing in black muscle T and tight leather pants, Nunez then unleashed a series of one-legged turns and butt shimmies in "Sol y Sombra." Technically adroit, Nunez relies too heavily on the smolder factor, and one looks forward to the day when depth trumps demeanor.
At 33, L.A.-based Briseyda Zarate scorched with her feline presence, a firestorm of filigreed fingers and fleet footwork in "Ecos de la Sierra." Connecting to the music, especially the soulful wailings of L.A.'s Jesus Montoya, the no-nonsense Zarate also skittered as if possessed.
