House of Flamenka, a brand new West End dance spectacular, co-created and directed by dance legend Arlene Phillips, is a lavish, extravagant and sexy fusion of Flamenco and Contemporary dance.

Set in a fantasy world in the home of a goddess of music and dance whose passion is collecting beautiful objects, her most prized possessions being 20 extraordinary dancers and musicians, who perform solely for her pleasure.

With an eclectic soundtrack, the show is a passionate fusion of very distinctive forms, full of explosive choreography both Flamenco and contemporary.

Flamenco star Karen Ruimy leads an exceptional company of dancers from Madrid and the UK.

Creative team:

Co-created and Directed by Arlene Phillips Co-created and Produced by Karen Ruimy Choreography by James Cousins
Flamenco Choreography by Francisco Hidalgo

Karen Ruimy

An accomplished flamenco dancer, Karen Ruimy is the definition of multifaceted being a dancer, creative director and singer-songwriter. Her most recent show, ‘When Jazz Meets Flamenco’, a fusion of music, expression, dance & culture, premiered in a sold-out run at Lilian Baylis Studio. She previously performed and produced ‘Flamen’ka’ at Casino de Paris, ‘Flamen’ka Nueva’ at Folies Bergeres, ‘Cabaret Flamen’ka’ at La Cigale, Sangre and Riverside Studios which was directed and choreographed by Redha Benterifour (Roman Polanski, Rick Rosenthal, Alvin Ailey, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Cuba), ‘Zik’r’, which sold out a week-long run at the Peacock Theatre, whose musical director was Youth (founding member and bassist of the rock band Killing Joke, producer The Verve’s Urban Hymns and other member of The Fireman alongside Paul McCartney) at the World Sufi Spirit Festival in Jodphur, India which also toured for three years. She recently released ‘Black Coffee’, a 10-track album of songs that featured the last produced material from the eminent producer Phil Ramone (Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Dusty Springfield, Barbra Striesand) made before he passed away. Youth and Tim Bran (London Grammar, Bloc Party) added additional production. The result was a decadent selection of covers that more than stand on their own, covering The Mamas & the Papas to Radiohead and some French classics in between. Ruimy was originally an international banker but she left that career to pursue creative and spiritual ventures. Alongside broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and human rights lawyer Jason McCue, Ruimy went on to establish GREAT (Gender Rights Quality Action Trust) Initiative to ensure that all genders are given equal and fair opportunities. Beyond her humanitarian work, Ruimy is known for her spiritual work, podcast, webinars and writing across a series of best-selling books, founding and serving as creative director of sought-after lifestyle brand KALMAR and contributing regularly to publications including UK Psychologies Magazine and The Huffington Post.

Arlene Phillips – Director

Arlene’s prolific career credits include: Director: The Cher Show, Lord of the Dance, Saturday Night Fever, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, Hair at the London Palladium, EFX at the MGM Grand. Choreograper (Musical Theatre): Guys and Dolls (upcoming), Grease, Starlight Express, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, The Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, Jackie The Musical, What’s New Pussycat?, Joseph (USA), Jesus Christ Superstar (USA). Choreographer (Plays): A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Alan Bennett’s Allelujah (Bridge Theatre, directed by Sir Nicholas Hytner). Choreographer (Film): Annie (John Huston), Legend (Ridley Scott), Monty Python’s Meaning of Life (Terry Jones), Wind in the Willows (Terry Jones), Can’t Stop The Music (Nancy Walker). Choreographer (Television): A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Russell T, Davies), Kenny Everett Video Show, BBC2: The Entire Universe, Olivier Awards, An Evening with Michael Ball, BRIT Awards, The Royal Variety Show, Children in Need, Party in the Park, Party at the Palace. Choreographer (Music Videos): Whitney Houston, Elton John, Queen, Freddie Mercury, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, AC/DC, Bee Gees, Duran Duran, Aretha Franklin, Culture Club, KISS, George Michael, Cliff Richard, Robbie Williams, Joan Jett, Olivia Newton John. Choreographer (Arenas and Concerts): Monty Python Live at the O2, Manchester XVII Commonwealth Games, 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Official Theme, Donna Summer Live at Universal Amphitheatre, Candoco Dance Company: You and I Know, Whelan/Watson: Other Stories. TV Judge: Dancing on Ice, Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance, Over The Rainbow, Strictly Dance Fever, DanceX, Let’s Dance for Comic Relief (BBC). Arlene is also an Associate Artist at Curve Theatre, Leicester.

James Cousins – Choreography

James is a choreographer, director and artistic director of his eponymous dance company, James Cousins Company, which has toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim since 2013. In 2020 the company took over Battersea Arts Centre with ‘We Are As Gods’, the company’s first large scale immersive event and in 2019 was nominated for Best Independent Company at the National Dance Awards. As a freelance choreographer James has been commissioned to create work for companies around the world including National Ballet of Chile, Royal Ballet of Flanders and Scottish Ballet as well as music videos for MUSE and pop sensation Anne-Marie and working commercially for brands including Impulse and Jigsaw. In theatre James was co-director and movement director on The Book of Dust (Bridge Theatre); associate director on The Cher Show (UK Tour, dir. Arlene Phillips) and Bach and Sons (Bridge Theatre, dir. Nick Hytner); and associate movement director on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bridge Theatre, dir. Nick Hytner). In 2023 James will be associate director and choreographer on a new production of Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre. James was the inaugural winner of the New Adventures Choreographer Award, selected by Matthew Bourne for his ‘refreshing desire to entertain’ and the resulting production Within Her Eyes is currently on the GCSE Dance syllabus in England.

Francisco Hidalgo – Flamenco Choreography

Hidalgo was born in Algodonales, Cádiz, in 1985 and he was trained in both Seville and Jerez by masters such as Manolo Marín and Pilar Ortega. This is how he developed a unique and personal language that meets his own need for expression. In addition, he was inspired by great artists of the flamenco scene, such as La Paquera de Jerez: In 2008, he was awarded the Premio Nacional Anilla la Gitana de Ronda and, in 2010 he won Second Prize at the Festival Internacional del Cante de las
Minas de la Unión. Thanks to his career and recognition, Francisco Hidalgo works in the most prestigious tablaos in Spain, such as El Cordobés in Barcelona, Los Gallos and El Arenal in Seville, Casa Patas and Corral de la Morería in Madrid. He also collaborates with Miguel Poveda in several recitals by the artist and in the American premiere of the film Los Abrazos Rotos by Pedro Almodóvar in the Lincoln Center Theatre in New York. Among his best-known productions are Los Silencios del Baile (2016) and Binomio (2017).