Flamenco Con Fusion, Udder Place, Old Steine Lawns, Brighton, May 4

1:43pm Monday 12th May 2008

Thoughts of flamenco evoke women in exotic, flamboyant dresses, lost in passion and pain while dancing as if their lives depended on it.

Disappointingly, dancer Ana Martrat couldn't have been further from this vision.

Dressed in plain black trousers and a modest black and white blouse for the first half of the performance, she seemed to repeat the same three steps while wearing a fixed frown before collapsing in exhaustion after just a few minutes.

Eventually she did change into a striking red dress and black shawl, but even with this, her style seemed more swashbuckling than fiery passion.

The musicians, however, were in a league of their own.

Guitarist Ricardo Garcia, who also served as compere, was a natural with the many children in the audience, teaching them how to clap flamenco rhythms and introducing each of the pieces before performing them with easy virtuosity.

And singer Alberto Perez brought the house down with the sheer power of his emotion which transcended any language barriers.

It was just a shame the dancing didn't do the same.

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