London/The Cuban company Acosta Danza, founded and directed by Carlos Acosta, arrives at Sadler’s Wells in London with Cuban Baroquea double program that explores the encounter between the European baroque tradition and the energy and codes of contemporary Cuban dance.
The program arrives in the British capital after its world premiere at the York Theater Royal, where it ran from October 1 to 3. The production, made in collaboration with that theatre, will later continue its British tour at the Norwich Theater Royal. Carlos Acosta has explained that the show seeks to condense the essence of his company through the fusion of classic, Cuban and contemporary vocabularies.
The first piece is Pearls (Pearls), new creation by the Greek choreographer Andonis Foniadakis. With music by 18th century Cuban composer Esteban Salas, and specifically his Hail Reginathe choreography is inspired by the repetitive structure of the chaconne to develop a movement that goes through moments of acceleration, rupture and recovery. The proposal moves the music from baroque lyricism to rhythms and movements linked to Cuba.
Complete the evening Chaconneby the Spanish choreographer Goyo Montero, a work originally created for the Staatstheater Nürnberg Ballet during the 17 years that Montero was at the head of that company. The piece takes as its starting point the famous chaconne that closes Partita No. 2 in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. In this version, the music incorporates violin, guitar and piano and accompanies a group of 16 dancers, in a choreography that requires close physical and musical coordination of the cast.
The title Cuban Baroque It also plays with the history of the chaconne, a musical form that emerged in America at the end of the 16th century and was later incorporated and transformed by European baroque music. The program now proposes a journey in the opposite direction, bringing that legacy into dialogue with current Cuban dance.
The opening performance on Wednesday the 7th will also have a post-show discussion with members of Acosta Danza and the creative team, moderated by Sir Alistair Spalding. The activity is free for those who have a ticket for that performance and will have interpretation in British Sign Language.
