Luz & Mannion Dance: Blue Ghost

A contemporary flamenco show, Blue Ghost uses movement and sound to celebrate the beauty of the Blue Ghost Firefly – a rare insect whose creation of light invites reflection on the fragility of the natural world. Redefining the flamenco format, Luz & Mannion’s breath-taking and electrifying show features live electronic music by composer and sound artist Nick Rothwell.  A sensory journey of light, a narrative about the invisible, the insignificant, yet essential, Blue Ghost reminds us of our interconnectedness, and that even the tiniest creatures have an important role to play in our ecosystem.

The show’s choreography and concept has been authored by Magdalena Mannion and Noemí Luz, co-artistic directors of Luz & Mannion Dance, in cooperation with the British composer Nick Rothwell (Cassiel). Seeking to address ecological issues, the performance was created in collaboration with the insect conservation organizations Xerces and Buglife UK. The Luz & Mannion Dance have toured Sadler's Wells, The Lowry, and the National Theatre in London. Their work also includes the project In Body, digital festival The Dancing Nation (BBC iPlayer), and several international tours.
 

A renowned British-Spanish dance and choreography duo, Magdalena Mannion and Noemí Luz have been artistic directors of the Luz & Mannion Dance since 2017. Both work at the intersection of traditional, contemporary, and experimental flamenco, asserting themselves internationally as artists, educators, and performers. Together, they are recognized as authors and performers in important European institutions, including Sadler's Wells in London, and represent the ever-questioning, innovative voices of contemporary flamenco.

Luz & Mannion Dance doesn't play to a flamenco stereotype but instead investigates the potential of this powerful art form through various artistic disciplines and cultural contexts, paying homage to tradition whilst stretching its boundaries and generating diverse and unique voices for flamenco. They understand flamenco as a nuanced, energetic and poetic language; a multifaceted tool for reflection and self-expression that embraces the individual as well as the collective. The ongoing dialogue between British and Spanish cultures is at the heart of their work. Passionate about sharing this artform, they are constantly exploring new, interdisciplinary approaches to the art of flamenco.

The Noches de tablao series presents fresh artistic initiatives in the field of contemporary flamenco that intertwine the disciplines of live music and dance, with an educational and theoretical accompanying programme. The series builds an intercultural arc between international and local artists, who establish a dialogue between flamenco and other artistic genres, and tap into new creative approaches to music, dance and performance art. Since its launch in 2017, Noches de tablao has served as a platform for new artistic projects based on genre blending, running through a wide gamut of contemporary forms of expression. It features a series of concerts and dance shows that marry tradition with innovation in a variety of fascinating new ways.