When I first read the odd little play entitled “The Butterfly’s Evil Spell”, I knew that I wanted to have it as part of my dance experience, but I wasn’t sure in what way. The play, written by the 21 year old Federico Garcia Lorca is about insects, and had only one performance in March of 1920 and was considered a failure. I thought about it for several years and decided to create a dance-drama with only four characters. Because Lorca’s idea of the play itself was so unconventional, I felt that it’s interpretation could be no less. I wanted to combine Flamenco with Classical Spanish and Modern dance as a way of defining each character. Each dancer, in turn, developed and interpreted his (or her) own character. To each character I attached a musical theme or idea, much the same as the 19th century “idée fixe” of Berlioz. Guitarist Peter Mole then developed the music.

This project has been one of artistic co-operation and mutual respect and I hope that you, the audience enjoy our gift.

Claudia Carolina