From 20-22nd July internationally renowned Flamenco artist Pepa Molina will be performing her new show Perceptions at Parramatta Riverside Theatre. The premiere of this work has been waiting in the wings for three years due to a COVID induced delay (Perceptions was initially due to premiere at Riverside Theatre in May 2020) but is finally due to take flight, much to the relief of all involved.
The production is presented jointly by Form Dance Projects and Riverside Theatre but the work’s genesis actually stems from Molina’s experience as an artist-in-residence program she undertook at Residential Gardens in Rooty Hill five years ago that was facilitated by Blacktown Arts Centre. Residential Gardens is Australia's only Spanish-speaking aged care home, so it held particular resonance for the Spanish born artist with her Andalusian heritage.
By engaging in conversation with Residential Gardens’ Spanish speaking residents about their shared culture and the Flamenco artform Molina was able to develop a performance of her own and this first iteration of Perceptions – Prohibido dar el cante actually premiered at Residential Gardens in September 2019 as part of Blacktown's inaugural Magnify Festival.
Now, having further developed the work, Pepa Molina will be joined onstage by other internationally renowned Flamenco artists including Jesus Fernandez (who is directing, co-choreographing and performing), David Vazquez (singer) and Paco Lara (guitar composition and performance). In an interview about the upcoming premiere, Molina emphasised the collaboration of different artists who have made Perceptions what it is, and the possibilities for reinvention that the artform of Flamenco holds for its practitioners.
“What I like to do in my work is to re-visit traditions. Like Flamenco itself my work is rooted in tradition but always evolving.”
Perceptions explores the intricacies, superstitions and cliches in Flamenco’s past and present. One such superstition directly related to Molina’s Andalusian heritage is the association of wearing yellow with bad luck. This is a belief that still has some influence in Flamenco’s heartland of Spain and is actually linked to the historical death of a Flamenco singer who died on stage whilst wearing yellow.
While there is a yellow shawl in Perceptions which could be read as a rejection of this particular superstition, Molina’s emphasis is more about considering how Flamenco has been shaped and understood via people’s perceptions and assumptions, than it is about challenging any one particular feature.
Pepa Molina’s last show at Riverside Theatre was Bush Bailando which premiered in 2016 and was well received by audiences and critics alike. Senior school students in years 9-12 have the opportunity to book in for an educational workshop on Friday 21st July called ‘Learn the Repertoire, See the Show’. This is an excellent way for young people to engage and work with the artists themselves in order to connect with the work.
For more information about the upcoming performances of Perceptions and to buy tickets please visit
https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/perceptions-2023/