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Picture: Tristram Kenton Acosta Danza’s EvolutionBirmingham Hippodrome***** “Dogs begin to bark and hounds begin to howl, watch out strange cat people, little red rooster’s on the prowl”. Soon-to-be director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, CBE, ruffles feathers as he struts his Cuban heels at Birmingham Hippodrome this week in an outstanding performance of Rooster, part of Acosta Danza’s Evolution. How to make an entrance? The evening dramatically builds with the electronic Satori, choreographed by Raul Reinoso. The haunting folk music provides the dancers a rhythm as they seamlessly appear to move and breath as one, each body connected to one giant piece of material supporting and lifting Zeleidy Crespo. The tremendous flow and fluidity of movement swell like the ocean with an undercurrent so strong and unpredictable. Yasser Dominguez and Carlos Luis Blanco take on Zeleidy Crespo as she journeys towards spiritual illumination, defeating obstacles along the lighted path. Amongst the grasses then springs up the delightful Puntus Lindberg’s Paysage, Soudain, La Nuit including an art installation by Cuban artist Elizabet Cervino. The atmosphere is light and carefree and the dancers imitate nature swaying in the breeze. Swedish composer Stefan Levin has re-worked Cuban music from Leo Brouwer in a celebration of youth between the twilights and dawns with Marta Ortega and Yasser Dominguez.
Paysage, soudain, la nuit Picture: Kike Faun was originally commissioned by Sadler’s Wells for its production In the Spirit of Diaghilev and Flemish-Moroccan Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui has interpreted the classic ballet L’Apres – midi d’un faune with a score by Claude Debussy and additional music by Nitin Sawhney. Carlos Luis Blanco fuses together with Zeleidy Crespo as the dancers mould their bodies together in a flow of limbs, hard to establish where one dancer ends and another begins. This was an unbelievably breath-taking performance, with a fluid flow of motion demonstrating unprecedented strength and power. Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end and Rooster really is the piece de resistance with The Rolling Stones soundtrack from the 1960s and 1970s and the man himself Carlos Acosta, adjusting his tie and walking the walk. The preening cockerels dressed in velvet dinner jackets Play With Fire much to the amusement of the hens but we all need Sympathy For The Devil. An incredible mix of ballet and contemporary dance with an influential Cuban vibe, Evolution should be seen by everyone. Acosta Danza is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Tuesday November 12. Emma Trimble 11-11-19 |
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