Modern take on Pampas dance at Concert Hall in January

Read Time:3 Minute, 5 Second

An Argentinian dance and percussion troupe will be performing at the Sydney Opera House from January 17 to 21.

With heart-pounding energy and passion, the men from Malevo bring you their contemporary take on the traditional Argentinian folkloric, Malambo – a folk dance originally performed by Gauchos of the Pampas region.

Created by director, choreographer, and dancer, Matías Jaime, Malevo will blow you away with their high energy dance routines that fuse Malambo with flamenco and urban percussion.

Set to a pulsating rhythm of drums, the choreography combines the use of boleadoras, a leather and stone hunting tool used by Gauchos, with fast leg movements, energetic zapateados (stomping), and quick cepillados (“brushing/scrubbing”).

This South American sensation has shared the stage with Latin Popstar Ricky Martin, and Cirque du Soleil.

They reached the semi-final of America’s Got Talent, achieving a Judges’ standing ovation, and have performed across the world.

Now this thrilling all-male troupe is coming to the Opera House Concert Hall for a series of performances from January 17 to 21.

Performance times are 7pm from Wednesday through to Saturday with a 2pm Matinee on Saturday, January 20 and a 3.30pm performance on Sunday, January 21.

Ticket prices range from $79 (C Reserve) to $120 (Premium), depending on session dates, plus an $8.95 booking fee.

Malambo is a folk dance in Argentina, a dance of Gauchos. It is a solo dance of men (although it may be performed in groups).

According to an article in the Buenos Aires Times, Malevo is delivering international interest in this Pampas dance tradition.

“In Argentina it’s very complicated to have theatre performances due to the current economic situation,” said Gustavo Matías Jaime. “It’s difficult to present our show, and we do it almost exclusively in private events.

“It seems we have to present it abroad and come back at some point.”

The current world tour started in Russia in September, then moved to Saudi Arabia, the UK, India and arrives in Australia in January 2024.

Sydney Opera House performances will be followed by shows at the State Theatre in Melbourne and then another 22 cities in the United States and Canada.

According to the Buenos Aires Times report, Jaime created Malevo in 2015 to fill “a need to work on what I love the most, which is Malambo.”

“Until we arrived it wasn’t considered a viable job for professional dancers,” he said.

A year after its creation, the group received the prestigious Marca país label in recognition of its promotion of Argentine culture.

“Malambo is a native Argentine dance from La Pampa, a challenge between gauchos to see who was the most skillful, who did the movements the best to win the contest,” he said.

Practically all the members are from Buenos Aires Province, except for two dancers from Formosa and Santiago del Estero.

“Malambo is a very coarse dance. It’s similar to flamenco. It shows our soul, who we are,” said Jaime.

“We try to include that historic part within modernity, because we are young people who love the roots of our country,” he said.

Enjoy this article? Explore more of our ESG News below:

Prefer your news delivered to your email inbox?

Click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date with local, national and global ESG news.