Pasodos 'The Tango Spell' reviews Macias in reviews De Paor in reviews recent Pasodos reviews more Suzanne McCarthy reviews

Both are interested in the fusion of ballet and tango; the use of classical lifts, jumps and pointe mixed with the spice of authentic tango grammar. The Tango Spell, which is one half of a larger show, Take Two, intertwines these dance forms and has as its theme the four elements. Unusually, the choreography came before the story. Laura Macias, the choreographer, explained that she and Gavin had started composing dances, but did not have a showcase for them and wanted a repetitore piece for their company. They approached Anthony Norton, who has an opera background, to construct a suitable plot. Think Manon meets Carmen with an Argentinian twist!

Macias and De Paor are ideally suited for such works. Born and originally trained in Spain, Macias came to London to further her studies, first at the Bush Davies School and then for two years as a scholarship student at the Rambert School. On finishing she found work in Germany where she was a member of a number of state theatre companies. It was there that she became interested in tango. Gavin started his training in Ireland at the College of Dance in Dublin, and.was selected to participate in the school’s exchange programme with the Perm State Choreography Institute. Upon leaving his first job was in Chelyabinsh, some 1000 miles east of Moscow. He later went to dance in Germany where he met Laura.

While German state theatre companies offered them an unusually secure future, both felt that they needed greater challenges. In 2001 they took the decisive step towards establishing their own identities when they left Germany and set up their company. They wanted to use the ballet mis en scene format in a way that would especially attract younger people, so that, in Laura’s words, “they would be able to see themselves in the dancers”.

The construction of their show demonstrates that their ingenuity is not limited to choreography. In addition to themselves, The Tango Spell, as currently performed uses three other dancers – a tango dancing couple and a contemporary dancer. While they found their tango dancers in Scotland, they did not actually get to meet them until just before the show opened. The answer was to rehearse them over the telephone! This method worked so well that Laura said that she only had to make three corrections when she actually did she them dance in the flesh!

As with all companies, money is an issue. While the Arts Council of Ireland has not been willing as yet to support them, Pasodos has received funding from Abhann, best known as the production company responsible for Riverdance, and the Instituto Cervantes. Their intention is to have bases in Spain and Ireland, performing in both countries. They have ideas for new projects, and hope their next programme will fuse neo classical ballet with the Brazilian dance form, the Capoeira.

Take Two will have its premiere in Belfast at the Waterfront on the 18th September. More information can be found on the Pasodos Company’s website, www.Pasodos.com.