Benise (pronounced Buh-nes-say), his musical style and his brand of variety shows have been described in many crafty ways: “The prince of Spanish guitar,” “the Latin Riverdance,” “Cirque du Soleil meets Riverdance” and “Rockmenco” (a fusion of rock and Flamenco). The reason writers and fans must resort to inventing new words and genres to describe Benise is because his show evades categorization — it is an amalgam of many things.
The show features globally-inspired dance numbers, including Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, Argentine tango, Parisian waltz and traditional ballet. The music is a fascinating mixture of classical numbers (such as Vivaldi), rock ’n’ roll (Led Zeppelin, the Eagles and AC/DC) and African drumming, all performed with Flamenco flair. Dazzling costumes delight the eyes, such as handmade, ruby gowns cascading with a thousand red roses and shimmering salsa dresses. The entire show is performed in front of an ever-changing backdrop of digital landscapes designed by artist Michael Page, whose company Trike Creative has produced graphics for big-time shows like the Grammys, Oscars and “American Idol.” The surprising harmony of these elements is a global feast for the senses.
