The rhythm of flamenco is going to get you

Spanish flamenco maestro Carmen Iniesta is back in the capital and Dubai, this time with an exhilarating form of the dance.

Carmen Iniesta will perform at the Millennium Abu Dhabi and at the Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai. Courtesy Millennium Abu Dhabi
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After a resplendent performance at the Emirates Palace in May, the Spanish flamenco maestro Carmen Iniesta is returning to the UAE.

This time, she will be performing the dance's sweeping movements and rhythmic stomping at the Millennium Abu Dhabi hotel tonight, followed by a show at the Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai tomorrow.

With a number of successful shows at the renowned Jerez Flamenco Festival and the Biennial of Flamenco Art of Seville, Iniesta is one of Spain's top exponents of the passionate art form.

Her performances in the UAE will be of a type of flamenco called alegrias, which means "joy" in Spanish.

As the name suggests, it is one of the most uplifting forms of flamenco, with the lively, upbeat music expressing feelings of jubilation.

"We want to have a party here in the UAE, so we have opted for alegrias, the happiest type of flamenco," explains Jaime Trancoso, Iniesta's manager, from his home in Seville.

Trancoso, who has a doctorate in the study of Spanish music and is an accomplished flamenco pianist himself, adds: "I hope people will be clapping and enjoying themselves and maybe Carmen will even invite the audience to come and dance with her."

The dance dates from the 18th century and Trancoso says it is more popular than ever. "It keeps growing in popularity because it's such a powerful way of communication. It transmits so much emotion. We run classes in Spain and it seems that 80 per cent of our students come from abroad. People still think of flamenco being something authentically Spanish, but now it really is an international dance."

Because of this, Trancoso is looking to expand in the UAE. "We want to hold some workshops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. And maybe, if these are successful, we could hold an annual flamenco festival in the country," he says.

Carmen Iniesta performs at the Millennium Abu Dhabi today and at Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai tomorrow. Both shows start at 8pm. Dh290 for tickets including a buffet dinner. For more information, call 02 614 6006