Abu Dhabi : He is a popular movie star in Europe and a regular face on glossy magazine covers throughout the continent but that is secondary in his artistic life.

Dance is in his blood , which gives him more satisfaction as an artist, but films gives him more money and reach to wider audience, Rafel Amargo, who is also the best known Flamenco dancer and choreographer told a press conference in the capital on Saturday evening.

Amargo who is critically acclaimed for bringing flamenco into the 21st century said that flamenco is his religion. “I start my day with prayers .. it not any religious prayers.. because I don't believe in any conventional religion. But flamenco is my religion", he said.

However his passion for dance does not makes any conflict between dance and acting in his artistic life.

“I do two films and then two dance shows … I always try to balance the two. There is no conflict between the two ", he said in response to a question.

He talked to the media ahead of his two day performance 'Intimo' on the evenings on Sunday and Monday at Emirates Palace in the capital. Hundreds of flamenco lovers watched the show which Amargo performed along with ten musicians and six dancers on Sunday evening.


It was part of a series of high profile music and dance programs titled 'World Stage', being organised by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) from October 2009 to May 2010

He still cherishes fond memoirs about a previous dance performance in the UAE .

“When I danced at Madinath Jumeirah in Dubai three years ago, I found that Arabs love this art… thank you so much for it", Amargo said.

"Amargo's is one of the dance arts that expresses best the passion of human life - Flamenco", said Saeeda Al Ameri of ADACH on behalf of Abdullah Al Ameri , Director of the Department of Culture and Arts at ADACH.

He offers the purest techniques of this art in a famous contemporary style, after spending years working and training for its refinement and development, she said.

He was awarded the most prestigious award, which reflects the excellence in the performing arts in Spain and Italy, she added.