VISUALLY COMPELLING PERFORMANCE THAT BLENDS THE CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY

By Trisha Cusack ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Acosta Danza is a renowned Cuban dance company founded in 2015 by Carlos Acosta. Through the company’s work, the dance world has been graced with innovative performances that challenges the traditional expectations of dance. Cuban Baroque is the latest show in the company’s catalogue.

For complete transparency, while I’ve always found contemporary dance interesting, as someone without a dance background, I have little skill or knowledge to interpret choreography. Instead, like many other dance-illiterates, I judge primarily on the overall visual and emotional impression. Essentially, the vibes. So, with that in mind, we took ourselves to Sadler’s Wells in Angel for the evening.

Cuban Baroque is a double bill of two dance performances, Pearls and Chacona. The show opens with Pearls, a brand new premiere, choreographed by Andonis Foniadakis. Set to a live performance of Esteban Sallas’ Salve Regina, the audience watches the troupe of ten dancers perform with stunning levels of stamina, grace, and fluidity. One cannot help but be impressed by the looping structure with sequences continuing one after the other, moving between duets and group choreography. I’m always impressed with choreographers and their ability to create such dance moves that flow seamlessly while capturing the audience’s full attention.

For me, the best sequences were the duets where you get to see each dancer shine a little bit more. The sheer strength of each performer is admirable and no doubt Acosta Danza has extremely talented dancers in the company. Some of the sequences did feel a tad too long which led to a less impactful conclusion in parts. However, this didn’t affect the quality of the overall piece at all. Even the music, with its evolution and hints of electronic and bass, kept the piece interesting to watch.

Chacona by Goyo Monteres closed the show. First created for the Staatstheater Nürnberg Ballett, it was a decidedly different pace to Pearls but no less beautiful to watch. Set to the final movement of Bach’s Partita No.2 in D Minor, it is performed live by a violinist, guitarist, and pianist. The 16-strong ensemble again demonstrate the talent and presence required to be professional dancers. The contrast between Chacona and Pearls delivers a well-rounded show for viewers to enjoy.

Cuban Baroque is without a doubt a visually compelling show. If you are not familiar with contemporary dance, it is certainly worth seeing. While it could not be considered a relaxing night at the theatre, you will leave Sadler’s Wells impressed.

Acosta Danza: Cuban Baroque was performed at Sadler’s Wells from 7 to 10 October.

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Photo Credit: Charlie Kirkpatrick