Christmas With a Twist : * Pablo Rodarte and Dance Espana to perform the Nativity story in Lancaster, but with flamenco song and dance.

The Christmas story gets a whole new lift in Pablo Rodarte and Dance Espa na’s touring production of “Navidad Flamenca,” playing a single performance Saturday at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center.

“We’ve taken the Bible story, the birth of Christ, and added flamenco song and dance,” explains troupe leader Rodarte, who’s playing Joseph. The piece opens with a colorful Israeli market scene, which is interrupted by the arrival of the angel Gabriel, who recites his prophecy. “We took everything from the Bible,” Rodarte says, referring to Gabriel’s speech. “That’s Isaiah, Chapter 11, verses 2, 4 and 5.”

The dance drama continues with the traditional story line--Mary’s conception, the appearance of the three Magi, the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, the marriage of Mary and Joseph, Joseph’s dream, and finally the birth of Christ. The story is told in English and Spanish with a company of 16 performers, original music and a variety of modern and flamenco dances, including tientos, sevillanas, canas and solea tor dulerias.

“It’s an eclectic piece,” says Rodarte, who teaches flamenco at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque (home base to most of the troupe), and whose own work has been praised for its “passionate theatricality” by the New York Times. Originally performed in New Mexico in 1990, “Navidad Flamenca” has never before gone on the road. “We’ve had mouths dropping to the floor, standing ovations,” he says of public reaction.

But the weeks of one-night stands have also been wearing: zigzagging from Texas to Arizona to California, the troupe’s routine often includes two days on a bus to reach a destination, setting up for the performance, doing the show, then packing up and boarding a bus to the next town. “Because of lack of funds, we’ve had to do everything ourselves,” the dancer adds cheerfully.

Born in Denver, Rodarte says he knew from a young age what he wanted to do: At 18, he was studying with the Robert Joffrey School of Ballet; at 19, he was on his way to study dance in Spain. He remained there for 24 years, training in three schools of Spanish dance--regional, bolero and flamenco--and touring Europe, the Middle and Far East, Australia and Indonesia with his companies Los Duendes and Amanacer.

Returning to the United States 10 years ago, Rodarte settled in Albuquerque. “I had toured New Mexico with Maria Benitez,” he explains of his choice, “and I loved the land. It’s magic.”

One of the imports in the cast is Madrid-based singer Manolo Segura, whom Rodarte first met years ago in Spain and who says he has been “touring the planet” since the age of 7. “I’m playing one of the three kings--a very funky king, a Bohemian--who’s coming from the East to find this baby,” Segura says. “It’s kind of a silly scene,” he adds proudly. “I do the rumba with the two other kings.”

Where and When

What: “Navidad Flamenca”

Location: Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd.

Hours: 8 p.m. Saturday.

Price: $12 children, $18 adults.

Call: (805) 723-5950