Matador / intimo

Matador / intimo is burlesque with balls, or should I say bulls!

After a somewhat tardy start we are immediately immersed in a world drenched with blood-red light and couples lurking ominously in the shadows.

The show itself is a melange of burlesque, aerial work, flamenco, point work, cross gender, and salsa, all wrapped in costumes that would fit equally in the bull ring or a BDSM dungeon.

There is a pleasing balance between the testosterone charged routines by the male ensemble and the sexually charged feminine clothing and dancing which consists of a well-balanced mixture of Spanish influence and burlesque.

The energy emanating from the stage is infectious and the audience is swept up in the emotion and sheer talent pouring from the stage and provide vocal support.

My personal favourite sections were – the aerial work on a platform accompanied by 5 men with bull’s horns stamping the ground as if they were about to charge the performer or even the audience, the story woven throughout the performance featuring the female flamenco dancer and her bull, and the pas de deux with a male performer blindfolded being guided by his keeper in a BDSM scenario and en pointe!

Full marks to the two male performers who danced in platform, high heeled boots that would challenge any runway model!

I saw the opening performance and while the pacing is slick and the dance well-rehearsed, there were some problems with the lighting plot resulting in performers occasionally dancing in the dark at the back of the set or not being lit when on the main stage.

That aside, this is no ordinary dance/burlesque production. There is a clear message that runs throughout the performance of acceptance and inclusion reinforced at its conclusion by a short post show speech.

Matador / intimo is an in-depth exploration of human sexuality told through dance and the art of the Matador!

Barry Hill OAM

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