George Bernard Shaw defined dance as 'a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire', and there can be few dances which this describes better than the pulsating beats and driving rhythms of flamenco.

Traditionally the musical outlet of the poor and oppressed, flamenco includes influences from gypsy, Andalusian, Jewish and Arab cultures, but the overriding characteristic is one of improvisation, in which the artist embellishes the basic structure with their own flamboyant interpretations.

Bailaoeres, which means 'flamenco dancers', but with a greater sense of respect and tradition (and spelt in a 'gypsy' way with that extra letter E, just in case you wondered why your dictionary had it a different way) is an intimate portrait of four outstanding contemporary flamenco dancers and choreographers: Rafaela Carrasco, Israel Galvan, Andres Marin and Belen Maya. Through conversation and performance they illustrate their own individual styles and approaches, bound by a passionate argument against standardisation of their art and a demand for a flamenco that is non-sensational, in which personal innovation is balanced by respect for the deep-rooted traditions of the dance.