Fully-fledged theatricality: Compañía Manuel Liñán’s Muerta de Amor

Compañía Manuel Liñán in Muerta de Amor

By Graham Watts, 05 June 2025

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“illustrating journeys through the birth of desire to the gentle extinguishing of love’s flame”

Reviewed at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 2 June 2025

Muerta de Amor (Manuel Liñán)

Compañía Manuel Liñán

Gloria Montesinos, Lighting Designer

Francisco Vinuesa, Flamenco guitar

Javier Teruel, Percussion

Mara Rey, Cantaora

Miguel Ángel Heredia, Dancer

José Ángel Capel, Dancer

Alberto Sellés, Dancer

Ángel Reyes, Dancer

David Acero, Dancer

Manuel Liñán's ¡Viva!: a breathtaking, spectacular show

Graham Watts, 17th October

Liñán leads the way with a trio of solos, each showcasing his magnificent command of zapateado, opening with a back-to-audience performance that exemplified the silky-smooth fluidity of his hands, wrists and arms.

*****

Manuel Liñan in Amor Amado Amén is mighty, macho and charismatic

Graham Watts, 12th July

An intimate “sharing” about love and desire.

***11

Ballet Nacional de España presents a vibrant 40th anniversary gala

Cristina de Lucas, 8th December

Ballet National de España (BNE) celebrates its 40th anniversary with a vibrant gala that brings together old and new landmarks of its repertory. Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela hosts the event.

****1

A disapointing Sorolla

Cristina de Lucas, 12th November

Antonio Najarro’s attempt to produce a dance piece inspired by Joaquín Sorolla’s paintings for the Ballet National de España’s production Sorolla fails to grasp the essence of the rich diversity of Spanish dance

**111

Belén Maya and Manuel Liñán's Trasmín

Rosamaria Kostic Cisneros, 10th March

Belén Maya and Manuel Liñán's Trasmín kicks off the second week of the London Flamenco Festival, hosted at Sadler's Wells, London.

****1

BalletBoyz: Still Pointless at 25 and still making it work!

Maggie Foyer, 13th May

The BalletBoyz present an entertaining programme of old and new works spanning the last 25 years – with stellar performances.

****1

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Graham Watts

Graham Watts is a freelance dance writer and critic writing regularly for Dancing Times, Dance Europe, Danza Europa, and many more publications. He regularly writes features for Sadler’s Wells, London Coliseum and La Scala. Chairman of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in the United Kingdom and of the UK National Dance Awards he has interviewed many of the greatest names in dance including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Boris Eifman, Alexei Ratmansky, Andris Liepa, Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley and Dame Gillian Lynne. When not involved in dance Graham is a keen fencer, and has captained the British Sabre team.