Sarah Baras (San Fernando, Cádiz, 1971) does not think of his life without dancing or a scene. On August 6, she will present her last show, Alma, at the Starlite Festival. Now over 50, she says she feels special energy and is grateful that her feet are on the ground.
What is ‘spirit’?
‘Alma’ is a show that fuses flamenco and bolero. These are well-known melodies of well-known boleros fused with different forms of very traditional flamenco, and the truth is that the fusion is beautiful not only in the musical part, but also in the stage, costumes, of course staging. . stage and choreography. We mix the very flamenco movements with the abundant flamenco energy, the softness of the typical bolero movement. It is a very happy show with a beautiful energy, deep moments, not sad, but deep.
Which boleros are recognizable?
are valuable. For example, Nostalgia, I miss you, Something from you, Get out of me… The truth is that the route of boleros is beautiful and easy to feel. It’s so special to suddenly think that a melody, for example, from Nostalgia, is inside a siguiriya square, it has a different melody, although recognizable there.
He grew up listening to the bolero, thanks to his father.
Yes, this ‘Alma’ is dedicated to my father. Just as my mother taught me to love flamenco, she did the same with boleros.
Who did he trust to turn off the boleros and who is he bringing to Starlite?
Keko Baldomero, who has been the music director of the company for many years, is the music director and we have been together for a long time. He was responsible for all versions of this type of bolero fusion. We have two super-luxe singers live, Rubio de Pruna and Matías López, and we wanted to add three collaborative works like Juana La del Pipa, Rancapino Chico, and Israel Fernández on vocals, but the playback and Vete de mí version is by Álex Romero, a pianist who gives a beautiful performance. . Everything else is lively by Diego Villegas, who plays both harmonica and saxophone, by the two bicharracos Antón Suárez and Lolo el Pajaro, as well as guitar versions of Keko Baldomero and Andrés Martínez. There are seven live musicians plus five girls who dance like angels and Daniel Saltares, the only boy dancing on ‘Alma’.
This show was designed while off…
The truth is, yes, the pandemic has given us time to dedicate not only to this show, but also to another show we’re premiered called Moments. Yes, it started there, we started to choose all the costumes, landscapes and boleros where the costumes really play a very important role in this show where we combine the styles of bolero and flamenco with a very modern vision. fashion. We started looking for lycra, silk, crepe… everything to put together this ‘Alma’.
As a dancer, you must feel good for the outfit you wear to fulfill its aesthetic function.
Yes, I always say I have great respect for the artist who stays with what works for him, but that’s not our case. Our case is to try to contribute to something more. And while doing this kind of show that combines a record we haven’t played before, namely the bolero, it allows us to create it from a different perspective and with other elements. In this case, the wardrobe is made by Luis F. Dos Santos, who has worked with me many times and has a good grasp of the style to be able to move easily.
Was it difficult for you to return to the stage and go on tour after prison, or did you feel the need to reconnect with the public?
I was crazy, now I was crazy to go back. I don’t know my life without dance and I realized there not only that, but the stage, that dedication and that beautiful bond that exists with the people. And honestly, it happens to my entire team. The first rehearsals we did were a gift, we all had an energy and a desire to give ourselves and share it with the public. It’s a gift, because we’re still there, with the desire and illusion to feel all those emotions again.
You say turning 50 is something very important to you…
I thought that fulfilling them, I don’t know, would be a sign of being less powerful… and to my surprise, the opposite happened. I feel stronger, more focused and happier than ever before, and I think that shows the way I dance and create. This is another gift.
What do you like most about yourself as a dancer now?
I think this will be the energy, the way to enjoy and feel, to value luck, to continue with a great team like what I have and continue to share it with so many people. Technically, you keep working, studying, rehearsing and sweating to be able to dance as usual. The most beautiful thing is to be able to put your feet on the ground, never let your guard down and share it with such a great team.