For most people, the mere mention of Flamenco conjures up images of swirling dancers.

But the tradition is, in fact, made up of three distinct parts - baile (dance), cante (song) and guitarra (guitar).

This tri-partite nature of this Andalucian tradition was thoroughly explored in this show from the Paco Pena Dance Company.

It opened with a voice over asking "What is Flamenco?"

The performance dedicated itself to answering that very question.

The group, made up of five dancers, three singers, four guitarists and one percussionist, took the audience through four separate areas of Flamenco - a domestic hearth, a late 19th-Century cafe, a professional stage and a modern rehearsal studio.

With elaborate costumes and stunning lighting to suit each era and seamless direction dividing each act, the action alternated between guitar solos and fancy footwork and spine-tingling vocals to portray all aspects of the art form.

The star of the show was undoubtedly guitar maestro Paco Pena himself, whose nimble fingers, plucking with incredible speed, soared to heights only good Flamenco music can reach The passionate vigour of the singers and rhythmic stamping of the dancers also managed to get the audience thundering with applause.

In the opening scenes, I felt a little frustrated not to get the fiery Flamenco dance I had been anticipating, since although the music and set made me feel I could almost taste the dusty heat of southern Spain, the movements seemed tame and lacking in dramatic tension.

However, with the advent of Cafe Cante and world stage scenes, the steps got speedy and the twirls became elaborate and my desires for full-blown Flamenco energy were more than satiated.

In retrospect, this left me feeling pleased a more mellow type of Flamenco had been reflected at the start, perhaps more indicative of the true roots of the dance which came from ordinary Spanish folk.

This sense of Flamenco being enjoyed and practised by all, not just the extraordinarily talented, was also reflected in the soul-stirring finale when all the performers did a final strut to say goodbye to the audience.

In one of the most inspiring moments of the night, the percussionist and one of the singers took centre stage for their own version of the Flamenco dance.

Although clearly not professional dancers, they still possessed the passion and rhythm that is the heart and soul of Flamenco.