Curve opened its doors to the world premiere of La Bamba on Thursday night.
Directed by award-winning American Director Ray Roderick, this musical’s choreography certainly packed a punch on opening night.
The musical, inspired by the legacy of Ritchie Valens, features some huge hits, including Hips Don’t Lie, Havana, Living La Vida Loca, Let’s Get Loud, and of course, the titular ‘La Bamba’.
Although he was only 17 when he died in that fateful plane crash along with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens was already a well-known artist with huge hits, including La Bamba, to his name.
The musical follows Sofia, played by Ines Fernandez, making her professional debut in the role, although you would never think so as she plays the role to perfection.
Sofia, like Ritchie, had a humble upbringing, growing up in Pacoima, Los Angeles, but she always had her love of music and her guitar, which her late father, Ricardo – played passionately by Strictly’s Pasha Kovalev – gave her as a young child.
The young Sofia, played by Lia Alqadhi, shone on stage and kept the whole audience in the palm of her hand with her confident performance and beautiful singing voice.
When Sofia and her best friend Mateo, played by Siva Kaneswaran (The Wanted) go to an audition, everything changes for her.
She is persuaded to go on tour, whilst her mother Elena, played by Stefani Ariza, keeps a close watch on her, contacting her regularly with some excellent lines including ‘Have you been eating? You sound thin!’
The set works really well for this musical, whisking the audience off to the villages of Pacoima – with clever lighting, especially when friends and family come together to celebrate The Day of the Dead (Dia De Muertos).
For me, the choreography from Strictly Come Dancing’s Graziano Di Prima and Commercial Latin Choreographer Erica Da Silva really made this musical. From the opening scenes through to the finale, the cast and ensemble made up of eight dancers, incuding Tristan Ghostkeeper, Brendan Graham, Luke Jarvis, Gabriella-Rose Marchant, Nicolle Matheu, Bethan Mitchell, Julia Ruiz Fernandez and Alex Sturman never fail to impress.
La Bamba is at Curve until Saturday 5 August.
Tickets £10 – £43.50
