ZIK’R at the Peacock Theatre

Telling the story of Flamenco dance across different cultures, ZIK’R is an immersive dance and music spectacle that will take viewers on a tour across the continents.

The first half explores Asian and especially Middle Eastern varieties of flamenco. The journey begins in India where the  slow, expressive movements of the solo dancer are accompanied by the soft chanting of the back-up singers. The second half recreates settings from Latin American in sound, with the rhythms becoming more important and the whole performance more fast-paced. Even though ZIK’R proclaims to be a dance performance, music is an equally if not even more important component. While some pieces are exclusively concerned with melody and soft vocals, most of the time, the movements of the dancers reflect the music and the emotions carried within. Their faces portray the emotional turmoil flamenco brings with it and their rhythmical tapping adds an additional layer to the rich music.

The stage is bare throughout: there are no embellishments whatsoever, apart from a projection in the background, which captivates the viewer with a rotating sun that gradually turns into the moon in the second half. Musicians are seated at the back of the stage, comprised of of drums, violin, keyboard, classical guitar, bass and bongos, creating a varied sound and embodying the melodies of all of the different countries well. The four dancers are at points almost overshadowed by their musical counterparts, or rather melt into them. Indeed, one of the performers is singer and dancer at once, her voice skilfully anticipating her movements.

Though most parts of the performance are enjoyable and display impressive skill, there are also glitches that prevent ZIK’R from reaching its full potential. Technicians occasionally cross the stage, the back-up singers confer before a new song or move out of sync, which unfortunately makes the performance feel a bit amateurish at points. Nonetheless, ZIK’R surely provides an entertaining evening for fans of flamenco and even invites the viewer to join in.

 

Luisa Kapp

ZIK’R is on at the Peacock Theatre from 14^th until 18^th June 2016, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch the trailer for ZIK’R here: