“A sumptuous music and dance spectacular"
Allthefestivals.com

“Much sexier than Riverdance”
THE HERALD, Scotland

“It’s one big party”
THE GUARDIAN, UK

“A feast for the senses... breathtakingly speedy”
SUDWEST PRESSE, Germany

“Fresh, energetic...  a fabulous show”
SUNDAY TIMES, UK

“The recovery of a treasure in Venezuela... fascinating”
SELECTIONS magazine - READER’S DIGEST

“Impossible to keep still and stop smiling”
THREE WEEKS, UK

“If only all history lessons were this interesting”
THE LIST MAGAZINE, Scotland

“Sparkling with dynamism and joie de vivre”
AUGSBURGER ALGEMEINE, Germany

“An unique company. A memorable show. A cosmic force”
EL NUEVO HERALD, Miami

“You just want to jump on the next plane to Venezuela”
THE INDEPENDENT, UK

“It´s the rhythm of life... A truly memorable experience”
THE SCOTSMAN, Scotland

__________________________________________________________________________ 

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

_______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

______________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

_________________________________________________________________________

MEXICO, Octubre 2010

_______________________________________________________________________

CARACAS, Junio 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

CARACAS, Junio 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

CARACAS, Junio 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

CARACAS, Junio 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

CARACAS, Junio 2010

_____________________________________________________________________

UK, August 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

UK, August 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

UK, August 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

UK, August 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

UK, September 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

VENEZUELA, June 2009

__________________________________________________________________________ 

GERMANY, November 2008

Complete translation:

Swirling dances at breathtaking Tempo and vibrant rhythms, effervescence, high-carat thoroughbred musicians, and because of that an audience which at the end could no longer keep to its seat and enthusiastically clapped along – that was Venezuela Viva, the second subscription event in the Wolfgang-Eychmüller-Haus. The production of the Las Lizarraga Dance Company from Caracas brought pulsing life onto the stage and presented a perfect dance show.

Turbulent History

The history of Venezuela, named “Little Venice”, is unconventionally and beautifully retold through dance and choreography. No South American tearjerkers, no clichés, but original dances with hard, tap dance step sequences (the floor of the stage was specially prepared for this by the producers), elegant flamenco and Caribbean salsa, the rock oriented South American music. These colourful world music sounds were offered live to the visitors in the sold out Haus with instruments little known in Europe, the bandola, similar to the luthe, the cajón, a box drum, the cuatro, a small four stringed guitar, and the maracas, the Rumba clatter.

It is a fascinating history lesson that runs on stage, complemented with videos and projections. Queen Isabella ruled at the end of the fifteenth century and is driven by the urge to conquer. Previously, the Iberian Peninsula was the western border of Islam. The coming together of Christians, Muslims and Jews produced a powerful and authentic culture. The show spares nothing:
The enslaving of men, the forays of the conquistadors in the new world, the fight of the indigenous people against the Spaniards, whom Simon Bolívar defeated and in so doing, created the new Venezuela. It is a modern and progressive country and therefore full of contrasts. But, rich or poor, they all have something in common: they love life. The show sparkled with dynamism and joie de vivre.

Ravishing costumes, the staccato of the dances, the joy of the movements are a colourful conglomerate, which turned the evening into a thrilling experience. No surprise that the applause would not stop.

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

Complete translation:

A barrage of heels: a dance time journey – “Venezuela Viva” in Vohringen

The history of a country danced at breathtakingly speed: 500 thrilled spectators celebrated the show Venezuela Viva at the Vöhringen Cultural Centre with a standing ovation. The show had the elation of a fiesta.

The Irish did it four years ago. Dozens of dance shows have clattered since. High heels, low level? The dance show Venezuela Viva has vanquished all scepticism. Because the Dance Company Las Lizarraga and the live/band Venezuela Viva offered in Vöhringen with much Flamenco all that show business can deliver and even more: a history lesson and a glossy travel brochure at the same time.

The time journey through the chequered history of Venezuela and its multicultural roots became a declaration of love for the homeland. Carolina Lizarraga staged as a feast for the senses a collage-like image rainbow with dance, music, words and pictures, and on top of that added a portion of patriotic pathos. Speedy and brightly coloured at every turn, from the discovery of Columbus in 1498 to the present.

The projection of images taken from old maps and copper engravings to videos of imposing landscapes plus an English narration in off filled in the historical background. In fanciful choreographies performed in a costume frenzy and rather kitsch light design, all concerned had a role to play, from the Spanish queen Isabella, the discoverer Columbus, indigenous people, work-slaves from Africa, the liberator Simon Bolivar, the din of battle to the conquered independence from the Spanish Crown. Plus flamenco. We all stretched our necks. The bad news was that from the back rows at ground level of an almost full Eychmüller-Haus, the view of the virtuoso leg work of the 16 hot-blooded dancers, who also performed the male roles, remained partly out of range.

In perfect group synchronisation or in duel rivalry, the staccato of the heels became a barrage. Ductile grace, pride, energy and body control elicited bravos. The 20 scenes contained everything, from poetic moments (like the ribbon solo) to African Rhythms, blood-stirring calypso with Caribbean flair and modern salsa in front of the skyline of the capital Caracas.

The enthusiastic nine strong band produced a mighty sound on stage. In the loud mix of a playback sound (violin solo) and live music the harp with Latin jazz and the two clarion flamenco singers stirred the fire. Obviously, in the vital Finale with encore the over 500 spectators, having been put in this fiesta mood, were propelled off their seats clapping to the rhythm.

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

Complete translation:

The Venezuela Viva show left behind an excited audience on Friday night at the Stadthall Lahr. Colourful costumes, Latin Rhythms, Flamenco and a stirring dancing brio enraptured the audience into shouting Bravos over and over again. It soon became obvious that the choreographer Carolina Lizarraga had in mind a Venezuelan version of the Irish Dance and Step show à la “Lord of the Dance”. A central element was the very lively flamenco from Venezuela.  

Danced history. The belly dance symbolised the Arabic Spain, but flamenco returned to Spain and the stage. The thundering step rhythms and precise figures of this flamenco mix with those of the Venezuelan national dance “joropo”, which has a rhythmic similarity to the waltz, but is performed with typical instruments: the panpipes, the four stringed guitar called Cuatro, the Harp, and much percussion. It is a swaying sound, occasionally African, but also reminiscent of a baroque minuet. On top of it all, follows a fiery salsa.

To start with, Venezuela Viva tells about the Spanish and indigenous origins of the country. Much pathos is given to the figure of Christopher Columbus. In the overture, ones sees light fingers like divine jets fall initially on one dancer – the rest lies in semi-darkness on the stage floor – who makes flamenco moves in a sliding and snake like fashion. Soon after, the other ladies are also lit up and we experience a sparkling mixture of flamenco and Latin American dances. Wonderful the costumes, ample, frilly skirts with beam patterns, which are a reference to the Incas, the children of the sun.

The stage has a staircase in the middle at the back, and on top of it a screen, onto which film sequences and still images, partly from historical graphics like Martin Behaim’s Globe, are shown. On either side, to the right and left, sit the musicians. Queen Isabella of Castille steps in from the Off, while on stage the flamenco dance swirls around. A flashback to a belly dance shows the Arabic Spain, an element that made the show a little more colourful, although later it does not appear again. The “Arabs” dance out of the stage, one who remains behind, will in an awesomely choreographed scene become encircled by flamenco dancers, increasingly closer, until their folded arms look like prison bars – a successful symbol of the re-conquest of Spain and the expulsion of the Muslims. Then an Angel visits Columbus, Isabella sends him off with great words into the ocean, much pathos from the hyped up music with a lot of orchestra sound from the keyboard.

In contrast, the archaic sounds and dances of the Indians in a diffused green forest light is fantastic, the costumes like body art. The flamenco steps and step-rhythms used here refer both to the archaic Indian society and to the Spanish catholic one. After that the African slaves appear, bringing new colours – deep reds and browns – new timbres and those lissom flowing dance movements from South America. In a short Finale, flamenco, Afro-beats and swaying Indian rhythms meet and fuse. Mystic scenes describe the inaccessible jungle mountains, the mass of water of the Orinoco, the Savannah, the culture of magic, many sinuous movements and thundering flamenco steps plus fantastic images of nature on the screen. The Call for Freedom is a vocal duel between two singers with dramatic voices, sung in the staccato rhythm and the typical howling upswings of flamenco. Simon Bolívar, the Freedom fighter, appears. Modern times in the country are rendered in Latin-Jazz and Salsa in wild, pulsating, urban swirling dances. This is a revue that grows from scene to scene and fascinates with its colour and sensuality.

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

Excerpts:

- 14 exceptionally attractive dancers did magic on stage in a sensual, explosive and whirling show.

- In rapid tempo, with amazing choreography and breathtaking color-splendid costumes, a captivating demonstration of dancing perfection was offered.

- Vividly, fast, rich in variation, passionate. A smashing show.

_____________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

Excerpts:

- It´s the rhythm of life.

- Tropical energy of the dancers combined with unbelievable band play joy.

- A true feast for the eyes and ears.

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

Excerpts:

- The show is a colorful and rhythmically impulsive homage to the land.

- Dazzling, full of exoticism and splendid color, the show transports an enthusiastic audience into the history of the country.

- Full of charm and elegance, the dancers enchanted the audience with fantastic costumes.

- All this fusion shows a self-confidence nation which looks with pride at her roots and goes her own way.

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

GERMANY, November 2008

__________________________________________________________________________ 

VENEZUELA, October 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

VENEZUELA, October 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

VENEZUELA, September 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

VENEZUELA, September 2008

__________________________________________________________________________

January 2008

____________________________________________________________________________

UK, August 2005

__________________________________________________________________________