Fire it up with Flamenco

It’s Wednesday night and you find yourself in Old City. You’re tired of your old haunts (read: Eulogy is boring and nothing's doing at the Khyber) and you’re looking to do something a little different. We suggest flamenco.

On Wednesdays at 9 p.m., let the musicians of Flamenco del Encuentro transport you from 2nd and Chestnut into the heart of Spain. We suggest getting to the bar at Amada around 8. Have a few drinks, maybe a cheese plate, and some conversation. A little before 9, an opaque white curtain will be drawn around the stage in the center of the dining room. As the dancers warm up, even the poseurs scattered throughout the restaurant drop their bullshit façades for a moment. When the curtain is pulled back, the fun begins. Tito Rubio plays flamenco guitar, and is accompanied by the other members of the group who sing and add rhythmic hand clapping.

Though you must be there to eat or drink, there’s no extra cover to stay for the group. We took our drinks from the bar and stood to the right of the stage to watch.

The show belongs to Anna Arias Rubio and Liliana Ruiz. Whether they’re dancing together or separately, the two women are completely captivating. We found ourselves enthralled by their dancing and rhythmic foot tapping, and the emotions that swirled across their faces as they publicly moved in ways that seemed private. Our favorite was Anna (right), who moved with such dignity, yet excitement, and whose expression reminded us that we were watching a noble dance that had a long and colorful history.

When the dance was over and we came back to reality, everything seemed a little brighter. More colorful. We realized that we'd found our true calling. And maybe later, when no one was around, we'd try our own version of flamenco, which amounts to slipping on a pair of heels and stomp-dancing around in our kitchen, listening to Rodrigo Y Gabriella.

Flamenco del Encuentro
Wednesdays, 9 p.m.
Amada
217-219 Chestnut Street
215-625-2450

Image Credit: Flickr user asturnut