ANY flamenco virgins who were in the audience for Jaleo’s performance in the Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, on Thursday, certainly got their money’s worth.

A small, but hugely impressive, company from Seville, Jaleo gave a full-on flamenco performance which left your heart thumping.

The long established company went through the gamut of flamenco song and dance.

The tension and drama of flamenco was brilliantly realised in a storming performance which had the audience whistling, cheering and clapping wildly.

Dancer Carlos Cabello was the epitome of Iberian hauteur, as he flounced and stamped his way through a brilliant repertoire, accompanied by percussive handclapping.

In several of his solo dances, Cabello’s piston-like feet disappeared into a blur of movement.

The two female dancers, Jose Leon and Ana Blanco, perfectly complemented Cabello, sinuously wheeling, turning and kicking up the pleats of their dresses as they clicked their fingers.

The dancers were superbly accompanied by guitarists Carlos Ayala and El Ingles – the latter hilariously sending up some of the conventions of flamenco as he joined his colleagues for the closing dance. A wonderful night!