El Flamenco Cabaret — Restaurant in Santa Fe

If you like athleticism and dance, you NEED to see this show. I never thought of Flamenco, never had any interest. Then a friend took me to this 6 or 8 months ago, and my jaw was dropped the entire time. You cannot believe the stamina, the expressiveness, the coy humor of these dancers. (The food and drinks are good, too. But let's focus on the dancers.)

Antonio Granjero is from Spain. He's the only Spanish director of a Flamenco program in the US. His mastery is something to behold, and after 15 minutes of high energy, high velocity dance, you cannot believe that he has still more in the tank from which to draw. He is literally world-renowned – and we're lucky he's decided to live in Santa Fe now.

Estefania Ramirez is American born but debuted as a dancer at Royal Albert Hall, spent 13 years studying in Spain, performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music . . . and you can't tear your eyes off of her when she's performing, because of her artistry and the beauty and dramatic flair she lends to the exquisite costumes (if that's the right word) she wears. She is regal.

And then they have guest dancers who are also spectacular.

The musicians are outstanding. They have clearly been playing together for a long time. The sound is excellent, and their interactions with the dancers are sometimes playful, sometimes they seem to catalyze or synergize with them. They're not just bystanders providing a soundtrack, but performers in their own right, and marvelous.

I've been twice, and both times was blown away, both times left wanting to know more about the art form, and left in awe at what I'd just witnessed. Worth every penny. Get a seat up...

I kind have mixed feelings about this place.

Here is what I liked : the show was good, 1:15 for $48 is not bad. It's a small place, so it's not crowded, and wherever you are seated, you will get a nice view of the scene. We went last minute a friday and we got a very nice table without reservation. The staff were nice but I am not sure if they knew what they were doing.

Here is what I hated : THE FOOD !! i was so excited to eat here, but omg, please go eat dinner somewhere else before going to the show. I ordered a cheese platter, and I literally got 4 tiny pieces of bread. So I had to order a side of bread which they charge you for, my side of bread was some old bread that was in the fridge and still cold. The soup was not good, i put so much salt and still wasn't tasty. The rice is literally microwaved rice. My $4 side of olives was from a jar. We ordered a pitcher of Sangria, it was ok but you can taste the cheap wine.

Ps : DO NOT sit in the table right in front of the scene, you will get some sweat drops on you !

This is the perfect place to go see the show, order a little drink just to sip something even if not the best drink of your life and just...

You came to peacefully enjoy a relaxing evening of entertainment and a meal. However you are left stunned after a jaw dropping performance of intensity and passion. The every calculated and purposeful movement of the dancers enthralls your gaze as you follow a tuff of feathers whipped off the gown of Estefania. The percussionist/singer orchestrates marvelous musical ear candy and studies with intensity every stomp of the dancers’ feet ... but is it he that delivers the timing of the song or are the dancers themselves orchestrating him? Before this unforgettable event, I never knew it possible for a flute to sing but now I am fully convinced. One should consider it an honor if he be so lucky in the audience to receive a flying drop of sweat flung from the dancer’s brow ...for this is proof of his sacrificial success at giving you a tremendous performance. I left wishing that I would dedicate my own self passionately to something... or maybe with just a desire to do everything that I do with passion and excellency ....to give my best and my all to everything that I do.... like those at El Flamenco...