Brandishing the mermaid-like attire while deploying one-legged turns in dervish fashion, the Spaniard could easily have been boogying up—or down—the steps at the Met Gala. And, in Cirque du Soleil-style, the trail-blazer somehow managed a gasp-inducing backward bend, albeit shedding his flamenco roots for glitzy showmanship. 

Was it fabulous? Yes! But was it art? Truthfully, this dude could walk across the stage in a Brooks Brothers suit and would still be cause for celebration.

In a veritable change of pace, the second half of the concert began with, “Sevillianas,” as 13 female members of the Zermeño Dance Academy moved in unison. With safety in numbers, these gals, earnest and determined, were saucy and sweet in their black and flaming red flounced dresses.

Ryan Zermeño and Daniela Zermeño Sanchez then took to the stage in “Fandangos.”  Accompanied by Orozco and Cortés, the former looked downright cheerful while tossing off a barrage of machine-gun-like steps, while together, they offered unadulterated flamenco, replete with dips, swirls and quintessential hip-swaying.

Displaying virtuosity of the highest order, Cortés, with flying fingers, then played an extended solo, before Ramos and Heredia performed “Seguiriya.” The male-male pairing proved thrilling in a call-and-response type duet, with Ramos, clad in a black lace top and tight pants pranced like a thoroughbred, a prelude to his tearing across the floor à la a bullet train. 

Basile returned in a fiery “Soleá,” showing her flamencan mettle, so that Ramos, perhaps, had time to don his final costume of the evening: red pants and a floral shirt—and also wielding a huge white mantone, much like a matador taunting a bull.