This weekend, the Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company performed at the Metropolitan Museum for one night only. Peña is one of the great flamenco guitarists; his shows are always beautifully-wrought musical events. This time he brought three dancers, including Angel Muñoz, an embodiment of the spontaneity that can make flamenco such an enjoyable art form. You can see the review here.

Here’s a clip of Muñoz in performance:

And here is a short excerpt from the review:

“More than other dance forms, flamenco thrives on the illusion of spontaneity. It’s the reason why some of the best moments in a flamenco show happen after the show has ended, when the ensemble gathers at the edge of the stage, like a happy family or a band of tipsy friends, dancing for each other. The guitarists dance, the dancers sing, and everybody claps along. Dance returns to its most basic function: a communal activity, a celebration of joie de vivre and the pleasure of good music. Great flamenco dancers trick you into believing they are making it up as they go along.”