Dance legend Carlos Acosta celebrates the tenth anniversary of his dance company Acosta Danza with a mixed bill in London this autumn. A Decade in Motion, which includes two UK premieres, comes to Sadler’s Wells Theatre from Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 September.
The evening consisted of 2 dances in the first half and then 2 more after the interval. Their order was correct.
We started slowly with what looked like individual dancers stepping into a white cube frame to perform what I’d best describe as warm-up stretches and poses similar to Tai Chi. “La Ecuacion” (choreographed by George Cespedes) gave us lithe flexibility punctuated with snap sharp moves into a pose it was a show-off dance that left no doubt these were honed dancers. The piece then added drums and rhythm and almost like a boxing ring the dancers would step in and out of the action and the light to perform in different combinations of 2, 3 and all 4 dancers.
The 2nd piece was “98 Dias” (choreographed by Javier De Frutos) had the 10 dancers in blue jumpsuits and blue socks sitting on 10 chairs across the upstage cyc line. They would sit there motionless until coming into the performance space to dance. While the music was playing it was brilliant with many athletic moves and lights. However, there was a lot of dialogue only in the soundscape and this was repetitive, in Spanish, too long and extremely boring. The dialogue interrupted the dance too many times and really damaged what would have been a wonderful dance piece if those sections had been removed.
After the interval, a powerful and strong piece “Llamada” (choreographed by Goyo Montero). While Cuba as a country might be a little slow to catch up with human rights (further info) the joy in creating theatre and the creative arts is that you can educate and express yourself more freely. This piece has strong dynamic block formations, a powerful musical score, and breakout groups of boy with girl, boy with boy and girl with girl. The dancing becomes more intimate and the dancers strip down to nude underwear and we have some sensual choreography, all perfectly perfomed in strong balance lifts and floor work.
The final piece “De Punta a Cabo” (choreographed by Alexis Fernandez) was a fun upbeat party number that had a video backdrop looking across a bay setting us on a beach or piece of land near the water. With drinking and dancing and having fun we transition from daytime sun to night-time moods and finally through to dawn. It is full of energy and zest for life making a perfect ending to the evening.
The dancers are just brilliant. Mixing contemporary and commercial with Jazz and ballet point work this performance breaks out of the rigid mould of any one particular dance genre. It’s a powerful evening and fulfils your hopes of Cuban dance being high energy and athletic dancers. The other standout contribution to the evening is the lighting! Wow, just superb lighting throughout! Each dance piece is credited with an individual lighting designer however the re-creation of the lighting is wonderful!
Acosta Danza
A Decade in Motion
Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 September
Press night Tuesday 23 September
Running time: 1 hour and 40 mins (including one 20-minute interval)
Running order: La Ecuación (15 mins); 98 Días (20 mins); Interval; Llamada (19 mins); De Punta a Cabo (20 mins)
Tickets from £15
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com
About Acosta Danza
Acosta Danza was created by Carlos Acosta in 2015 to harness and develop the young creative dance talent emerging from Cuba. The ethos of the company is to produce dancers who combine Cuba’s rich musical and dance influences with both classical and contemporary genres and create exciting and stimulating repertoire that pushes conventional boundaries. Acosta Danza has worked with some of the world’s leading choreographers as well as encouraging the emergence and development of new choreography from among its own members. The company performed for the first time at the Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso in Cuba in April 2016 and has since performed across Europe and internationally to great critical acclaim. Acosta Danza is a Sadler’s Wells International Associate Company. Acosta Danza is generously supported by Mrs Aline Foriel-Destezet.
About Carlos Acosta
Carlos Acosta launched on the global stage after winning the Prix De Lausanne in 1990. He has danced with the world’s most prestigious companies including London’s Royal Ballet performing almost every classical role from Spartacus to Romeo. Carlos has created many award-winning shows throughout his career, has written two books and acted in films including ‘Yuli’ inspired by his life.
In 2016 he founded contemporary dance company Acosta Danza and opened a dance academy in Havana. Honours include a CBE and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award from The Royal Academy of Dance.
In 2020, Carlos became Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Carlos is also the Chairman of the Acosta Dance Foundation founded in 2011 and established the internationally renowned Acosta Dance Centre in 2023, serving as a cornerstone for dance excellence in Woolwich, London.
About Sadler’s Wells
Sadler’s Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.
We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring more than 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown. Our acclaimed productions tour the world. Since 2005 we’ve produced 64 new full-length works and performed to audiences of more than two million, touring to 51 countries.
Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres – Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.
Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
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