This Dance Recital is unique.  Silvia Duran, the young
South African born dancer who, in her childhood, fell
in love with the Spanish dance up to the point of delving
into its innermost characteristics, through all its history and
its different points in the many provinces of Spain.

In this recital we witnessed how vast are the different 
images and styles which make up the Spanish character.

There passed before our eyes a gallery of female images of
Spain, of the different elements of the society, with classic 
grace of the salon, simple folk charm or smouldering passion.

Duran's genius to adapt and discard an image is quite amazing.

"In the Alhambra" is a Classical Spanish dance to the music of Tomas Breton.  Classical is also the "Bolero of the Diamonds of the Crown" to the strains of music by Barbieri.  "Farruca" is a specifically male dance in the Flamenco style.  Duran, in her interpretation, preserves the obvious elements of masculinity - strength and force.  "Viva Navarra" originates from the northern province and is a dance in the style of the Jota Navarra - light and airy.

The most interesting dance is the "Valenciana" - elegant, it shows great softness in the withheld tempo and perfectly measured steps.
The smouldering gypsy flamenco "Alegrias" shows the same conviction and authenticity as all the dances in this Recital and because of which one is not surprised that Madrid treats Duran as an "Ambassador" of her Culture.  

Truth and authenticity are felt in every movement - be it country folk or aristocratic - in the quick or slow movements and in the quiet promenade as if in a whisper - and everything treated with the seriousness of the regard for maximum detail.

Duran dances on an empty stage with no scenery.  However, the richness of her costumes, changed for every number, some very luxurious (Valenciana), add the decorative basis required.

The dancer had explanations given by a reader before every dance about the origin and character (explanations which serve as a good example for performances of this nature), and from the reader we learnt that Silvia Duran made great efforts to find roots of the Jewish Folklore before the Expulsion, but without success, and the image of "A Jewess at the time of the Marranos" which she performed was completely the fruit of her imagination - the impression was extremely dramatic and a number of small details brought an additional "Jewish" air to the dance.  The dress of the "Jewess" was exquisite.

Silvia Duran is now visiting different centres in the country, and also during her previous visit, in the days of the Yom Kippur War, danced for the soldiers in the camps of ZAHAL. 

MARIA BAR