Combining his passion for flamenco and pushing societal boundaries, Manuel Liñán brings the Gala Flamenca to Sadler’s Wells for just two days. As both Artistic Director and one of the dancers, Liñán has produced a collection of engaging performances where dancers, musicians and singers come together to entertain, enlighten and astound.
The dancers, Eva Yerbabuena, Manuel Liñán, El Farru, and rising star Juan Tomás de la Molía share pieces, provide solo outings and work with the singers and musicians to create a tapas menu of flamenco, both modern and traditional.
As seen across this year’s Flamenco Festival, the show has a black and white aesthetic in the staging, lighting and the costumes of the singers and musicians (colour is reserved for the dancers), but there is nothing monochromatic about the performances. The singers Juan de la María, Manuel de Ginés, Sebastíán del Puerto and the powerhouse known as Mara Rey are integral to the action. Rey’s husky tones may not appeal to everyone, but she deserves the solo she is given later in the show and even exhibits her own flamenco dancing prowess.
The three talented musicians, Paco Jarana, Francisco Vinuesa and Daniel Suárez, add virtuoso Spanish guitar and rhythmic percussion, and I was taken aback at the anguish and intensity of some of the music. Flamenco is a spectacle, and the music drives the dancers to create moments of drama and artistic flourish while delivering the zapateado footwork with great dexterity and speed. There are years of experience here, and for anyone who thinks that this kind of performance is a young person’s game, all the dancers except Molía are the other side of forty. Yerbabuena, in particular, shows energy and talent that considerably outweigh the years.
The show opened with Molía tapping his feet across the stage at considerable speed, followed by the singers who add clapping and their own occasional foot-taps. It is a mesmerising beginning from this rising star. With considerable commendations already and a winner of the National Flamenco Art Competition of Córdoba in 2022, this 26-year-old most certainly has a glittering career ahead of him.
Dressed in dazzling red, Farru performed a powerful solo using a cane to augment his complex and precise footwork. The piece culminated in a frenzy of movement and then Farru went on to play a solo on the guitar – so many talents for one person!
There was a deceptive simplicity to the duet by Liñán and Yerbabuena. Both wore unassuming black dresses, and there was a power in the height differential that heightened the intensity and synchronicity of the dance. Liñán is known for pushing gender boundaries and he later appeared in a traditional bata de cola skirt and shawl, but with his upper body in a masculine white vest. The effect is playful and does speak to Liñán’s obvious belief that there are no constraints to what flamenco can be. A female dancer may have been more elegant, but this was a clever way of challenging the norm.
The big star of the show was, without doubt, the legendary Yerbabuena, who showcased the soleá, the heart and soul of traditional flamenco. Working with the musicians and singers, using the palmas (handclapping) to accentuate the dance and choreography, she shimmered across the stage with assurance and muscular grace.
Gala Flamenca felt like it was paying homage to the tradition of flamenco but adding a twist here and there. For sure, the ensemble looked like they were having a fabulous time on stage, and judging by the standing ovation, I think the audience did too.
Gala Flamenca has long been the centrepiece of the Flamenco Festival. This year’s special edition unites four of the world’s most celebrated flamenco dancers.
Eva Yerbabuena is hailed as “one of flamenco’s best” (The Guardian), renowned for blending tradition and innovation. She’s known for her moving interpretations of the soleá – a traditional style that conveys deep emotion and is typically performed by a solo performer
Manuel Liñán, “a pioneer reinventing flamenco” (The Stage), returns to Sadler’s as both director and a performer for the Gala’s 25th Anniversary. His previous works Olivier Award-nominated ¡VIVA! (2022) and Muerta de Amor (2025) were audience hits for their subversive takes on the style and joyful expression.
El Farru, a dancer who hails from the legendary Flamenco family Farruco, also joins the lineup. Since his professional debut at age 6, he has performed across the USA and Europe, and has collaborated with artists such as Beyoncé, Björk, Marc Anthony and Paulina Rubio.
Rising star Juan Tomás de la Molía, “a torrent of footwork” (The Guardian), completes the cast, following his unforgettable solo in Muerta de Amor.
GALA FLAMENCA 2026
Sadler’s Wells Theatre
19 and 20 June 2026
