March sees six premiere flamenco acts from Spain performing at Sadler's Wells as part of this year's Festival, all of which promise top quality performances from some of the best known artists of the genre.

Latin Grammy nominee Estrella Morente's performance is already nearly sold out as she is certainly the best known contemporary flamenco singer, and a fine one at that, clearly living up to her lineage of flamenco royalty. Annoyingly, she is nearly always referred to as the voice behind Penélope Cruz's painful lip-sinking moment in Volver, one of the most cringe-worthy moments in European cinematic history. Morente is so much more than that. From the age of 7 she began performing with her father, maestro Enrique Morente, made her solo debut at 19 and was eventually launched into international stardom on Real World with her debut album Mi Cante y un Poema. Her voice is pure and strong with a maturity far beyond her years and her songs are melodic and emotive.

Rocío Molina Company performs 'Oro Viejo' (Old Gold), 25 year old Molina's contemplation on time. Included are Molina herself, along with 3 other dancers. Molina brings the traditional dance into the 21st century with her modern interpretations without over-modernising. Described as "one of the best dancers of our age" she is one to watch and you can judge for yourself how an artist so young deals with such weighty philosophical reflections.

For a more traditional approach, Gala Flamenca Mujeres returns to the festival with three generations of dancers; Merche Esmeralda, Belen Maya, Rocío Molin and singer Diana Navarro. An aesthetically rich presentation is on the cards with a full serving of traditional flamenco son and costumery.

Another of Spain's premiere flamenco artists, Eva Yerbabuena returns with 'Signs and Wonders' and exploration of smell, touch and sound in the absence of light of "who we have been, who we are and who we hope we may be, we come upon signs and wonders which illuminate our lives and may shed light for those who follow." Yerbabuena's style encompasses the true expressive passion of flamenco and she is considered the most influential baile of our time, as she brings perfection, passion and beauty to the dance.

If you seek something bigger and bolder then look no further than Antonio Gades Company's 'Carmen'. Gades, former director of the Spanish National Ballet, who died in 2004, was seminal in bringing flamenco to an international audience, in part through feature length and short film adaptations of his work such as El Amor Brujo (A Love Bewitched) and Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding). Flamenco en mass in combination with Bizet's tragic love story, apparently with Gades' own modern twist, is sure to be an emotionally intense experience.

Ballet Nacional de España's current director, José Antonio, dips into the historic repertoire of the company with 'Sevilla-Madrid-Sevilla'. Choreographed by some of Spain's best new talents Fernando Rombero and Antonio Canales. Joining as guest artists are Rojas y Rodríguez, a male double act who direct their own company Nuevo Ballet Español, and are not for the purists, but should prove an interesting addition as they attempt to establish themselves amongst these flamenco giants.

The Festival's program offers refined and virtuosic performances, not the gut wrenchingly raw flamenco, sometimes almost unpalatable in large doses, originating from an outcast community of poor gypsies, the remnants of which might be tracked down in obscure bodegas in Granada. Nor is this the mediocre flamenco presented to tourists off las Ramblas or in Spanish themed restaurants in Marbella, pink on black polka-dots and all. These are some of the most accomplished flamenco artists who tour internationally and promise to give polished, spectacular displays of baile magic.

For booking and more info: Sadlers Well's