Ole was, well, more OK

Los Vivancos, Lowry

FLAMENCO fusion hit the Lowry Theatre when Los Vivancos performed their blend of classic Spanish dancing, musical skills and entertainment value.

The seven Catalan brothers, who hail from a group of 39 siblings, have a wide variety of artistic backgrounds, from soloist with the Scottish Royal Ballet to dancing with flamenco star Joaquin Cortes.

It is this mix that feature in their successful “7 Hermanos” show which has been a worldwide hit and saw its UK premiere at the Lowry yesterday.

Set to live flamenco music, the show contains both individual performances and group pieces from the brothers who show off their dance and musical abilities, from intense toe-tapping and heel-stomping flamenco solos to musical duels and dance offs.

Macho posturing abounds in the show with the brothers supporting the Latin-lover stereotype through their brooding looks and plenty of muscle-flexing.

Sometimes the performances are a bit messy and lack the passion that is found in less showbiz flamenco shows.

Towards the end of the first half, the brothers perform a modern dance piece which, while enjoyable, is not skilled enough and sits uneasily between the traditional dance forms of flamenco and ballet.

But while purists may not leave totally satisfied, the crowd-pleasing moves got the audience going as did the bare-chested finale.