Talavera Dominates Evening of Flamenco

If the Fountain Theatre’s ongoing Festival of Percussive Dance were to crown a king, it would have to be Juan Talavera. A top gun in the flamenco footwork field, Talavera unleashed a rhythmic fusillade during one of his solos on Thursday night that could have wakened the dead with what sounded like an ecstasy of relentlessly racing heartbeats. As stern and tormented as a soldier with a secret, he hovered over his pulsing feet with stoic sincerity, changing pace and inflection so superlatively you just had to think--he must be the king of that.

It seems mean-spirited, yet inevitable, to suggest that kings aren’t good at everything. But in the case of Flamenco Talavera, inventive choreography and a strong female dance presence were missing, and Talavera as artistic director--and often choreographer--must take the rap. Graceful Sylvia Morales and Gabriela Garza had their moments, but ended up becoming decorative love objects in the predictable design of duets and group pieces.

However, there was no holding back the senior women; Charo Monge and guest artist Pepa Sevilla sang forcefully in one piece, while Talavera danced--they sang at him actually, in duets that paired vivid contempt with emotional attachment. At about 5 feet tall--if you count the four-inch flower on top of her head--Sevilla danced and sang several numbers, becoming the flamenco Piaf one moment and Mae West on speed the next.

But the less-experienced women were not presented well. For one thing, Talavera group pieces are simplistic in one way--there are few steps and much bland unison--but often require a dramatic focus and authority his younger dancers don’t possess. The small Fountain Theatre puts the audience mercilessly close to performers who are uncertain in any way. Even Alonzo Serrano, with some solid technical skills, often looked less than commanding.

Providing solid musical support was the fluent Guillermo Rios on guitar, supported by guitarist Jose Tanaka and percussionist Makoto Saito.

* Flamenco Talavera, Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Hollywood. Tonight at 8. $30. (213) 663-1525.