Carlos Acosta, ex-Royal Ballet dancer and newly appointment Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet has brought his Cuban Dance company, Acosta Danza’s Evolution to London. A four-part performance, Artistic Director Acosta aims to boast about Cuban talent and has pulled in a range of choreographers to create a sharp, unique performance.
Raúl Reinoso’s Satori features bare chested dancers tangled into one large piece of purple material; which is at one point strung from the ceiling. He combines contemporary, dramatic moves with the classical element of the striking dancer Zeleidy Crespo en pointe. Satori relies heavily on lighting and sound to build the theatrical atmosphere as discovery of ‘truth and spirituality’. Paysage, Soudain, La Nuit by Pontus Lidberg combines Cuban music with African roots, blended to produce a light, summery dance. The programme is a mixed bill of mostly contemporary dance-it makes you nostalgic of the summer seasons as it is followed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s duet Faun. This is a master-piece, the dancers intertwine with each other like primeval creatures. Their animalistic, agile qualities against a forest background has the ability to stun an audience with their world-class performance.
Acosta’s appearance in Christopher Bruce’s Rooster is as charismatic ever. Set to music of the Rolling Stones, Bruce’s choreography celebrates the 60s and 70s period, personifying the men as cockerels wooing the young ladies. It is feisty, fun and punchy. At times, the classical dancing was not fitting to the rock and roll music; especially in Ruby Tuesday. This seemed a little out of place.
Despite being relatively self-indulgent, the appearance of Acosta in the final dance makes up for the cost of the ticket. He is a phenomenally athletic dancer, who will inevitably always charm the audience! There was little connection between performances which did not allow it to flow, but it is certainly a piece worth seeing for the incredible talent he has showcased with his beautifully diverse company.
Review by Hannah Storey
Rating: ★★★
Seat: Stalls H17 | Price of Ticket: £85
