Carlos in Cuba

Published Thursday 10 April 2008 at 18:05 by Judith Cruickshank

Carlos Acosta is back at the Coliseum with dancers from his native Cuba.

The evening begins with the pas de deux from Don Quixote. Like everything in the first part of the programme, the music is recorded - at a truly funereal pace for the adagio. It does though, allow Yolanda Correa to demonstrate her balances - not really necessary as she has plenty of technique and charm in abundance. Acosta partners attentively and throws out enough fireworks to thrill the audience.

La Ecuacion, with choreography by George Cespedes, a piece for three women and one man, is chiefly distinguished by the energy of the dancers and the astounding jump of the only man, either Wuislleys Estachoi or Osnel Delgado - there is no way of telling.

Cespedes is also responsible for the evening’s premiere, The Weight of an Island.

I couldn’t see any connection with the programme note and from this showing you might guess Cuban contemporary dance owes more to high-level street dancing than to any particular technique and that Cuban music means people hitting things with sticks. But the dancers are young, skilled and attractive and it is touching to see Acosta as one of the ensemble rather than being featured as a star.

The programme concludes with a suite from Acosta’s popular Tocororo show.