Dancer Arroyo Epitomizes Flamenco ‘Enchantment’

As full of peaks and valleys as the Pyrenees, the latest edition of Charo Monge’s lively “Embrujo de Espan~a” (The Enchantment of Spain) rose to impressive heights whenever Yolanda Arroyo came into view at the Fountain Theatre on Thursday. Whether dancing alone, with her young son Paquito or with accomplished flamenco veteran Juan Talavera, this Barcelona emigre radiated unmistakable star-power.

Projected with spectacular immediacy by the use of a resonant wooden platform on top of the Fountain stage, her intricate matched heel work with Talavera in “Almeria, Tierra de Tarantos” proclaimed her technical prowess, just as her explosive yet perfectly shaped turns in their earlier duet, “Zorongo,” revealed an ideal balance between passion and control. But her hands provided the greatest glory in her dancing throughout the program--hands that fluttered or rippled magically against the light, defined their own rapport with the onstage musicians and drew all eyes into her orbit.

You could argue that Arroyo’s innate theatricality worked against the premise of the program: to put familiar Spanish dance forms back in the social environments where they developed, showing them as the expression of a culture. Thus the flamenco segments took place in a cafe setting and offered poet Pepe del Gastor’s gritty readings in Spanish, accented by guitar (the exemplary Paco Arroyo and Esteban). Flute solos by Miguel Mendiola, percussion by Miguel de Souza and, especially, the singing of Monge and Jesus Montoya enhanced the segment’s sense of atmosphere as well as proving impressive in themselves.

Earlier, however, the use of recorded orchestral music sounded artificial against castanet playing and heel work by Maruja Belmonte, Carola Marquez, Ana-Lupe Morado and Batista in selections drawn from the Spanish folk and classical repertories. Here, too, performance quality varied widely, sometimes plunging into deadly academic rectitude.

The program kicks off a five-week festival of percussive dance--mostly flamenco (a Fountain Theatre specialty), but with classicism from South India also scheduled.

* “Embrujo de Espan~a” continues tonight at 8 and Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Hollywood. $30. (213) 663-1525.