Los Vivancos at the London Coliseum

Showing at the London Coliseum for one night only, Los Vivancos is an energetic performance incorporating many different styles of dance. Created and performed by the seven Spanish Vivancos brothers, this piece is a passionate – though somewhat shallow – exploration of good and evil.

Los Vivancos is a fusion of flamenco, ballet, martial arts and tap dance. This combination of styles is blended with a dramatic mix of rock, classical and flamenco music, chosen and put together by the Vivancos brothers themselves. Seven female musicians back up their performance in the form of The Maszka Band from Budapest, and the resultant eclectic blend of dance styles and music is a little jarring. The brothers are all extremely skilled throughout, however the different acts do not blend as well as they should. The result is a slightly static performance and a confusing plot for the audience to follow.

All of the dancing is performed with extreme passion and finesse, but it is rendered hard to appreciate by the over-the-top drama that elicits laughter, rather than fascination. The performance becomes far more engaging when the flashing lights and loud music are pulled back a little, allowing for focus on the pure skill of the dancing, which is not done justice amid the sensory overload of all the theatrics. The crowd clearly appreciates it when the brothers embrace the humour in their show, rather than performing a soap opera-like drama.

This performance is really an exhibition of strength and agility. While the story and theatrics are rather corny, the Vivancos brothers exude passion and sex appeal. Their performance drags in the beginning, however by the end they successfully seduce the audience, who clap and cheer for more. If you enjoy tap dancing, testosterone-fuelled passion and very appealing Spanish men, this is the show for you.

Alice Fitzgerald

For further information and future events visit Los Vivancos’ website here.