José Losada Santiago - also known as ‘Carrete’ - is the 82-year old dancer who’s emotionally charged performance has made him a legend of Malága’s flamenco scene.

Drawing parallels between the sequences performed by Fred Astaire in classic cinema, and the fast-paced foot tapping of bulerías, Carrete’s has given life to a distinct performance style, feeding elements of tap dance into an abstract approach to flamenco.

With an act that has taken him across Europe, the artist now becomes the subject of a nuanced cinematic portrait, commissioned by Sadler’s Wells. Directed by London-based filmmaker Ana Gonzalez, and premiered on Sadler’s Wells’ Digital Stage, Carrete: The Gypsy Fred Astaire captures the essence of this unique talent, distancing the Andalusian dancer from the clichés that accompany Spanish folk dance.

Playing with symmetry, and positioning the artist in his most natural environments, Gonzalez challenges our understanding of the folk tradition, creating a visual and sonic profile that centers Carrete’s philosophy and connection to his art over the dance itself. Decontextualized from the world of flamenco, the film explores the emotion and depth of experience that drives Carrete’s performance, reflecting the intensity of his early years and the feelings evoked through this flamboyant art form.