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Up Close with Carlos

Carlos Acosta spoke to us about his beautiful and breath-taking evening of dance, Acosta Danza Up Close.

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  • Norwich Theatre News

Acosta Danza Up Close will be a breath-taking and beautiful evening of dance. The show features a series of solos and duets specially curated by Carlos himself to showcase the incredible talent of the Acosta Danza company.  

A Message from Carlos Acosta:  

I am delighted that my Cuban company Acosta Danza is returning to Norwich. Acosta Danza have previously performed at the Theatre Royal, and it is wonderful to be able to bring an intimate programme of works to the Playhouse. 

The Up Close programme I have created for you, the shows at the Playhouse, will showcase some of the most inspiring choreographers from around the world that the company have had the pleasure of working with. The programme includes End of Time by English choreographer and ex-Royal Ballet Dancer Ben Stevenson, Impronta by Spanish choreographer Maria Rovira, Faun by Belgium-Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Nosotros by breakthrough choreographer Raúl Reinoso and Beatriz Garcia, The Death of a Swan by Michel Descombey and Soledad by Spanish choreographer Rafael Bonachela which perfectly complements the evening. 

I am immensely grateful to all our supporters, in particular to the wonderful philanthropist and our founder sponsor, Aud Jebsen, as well as Sir Simon Robey, The Oak Foundation, for their continued support and the generous contribution of Mrs Aline Foriel-Destezet. 

More About Acosta Danza and the show 

Carlos set up Acosta Danza to develop young talent, showcase Cuban performers and put the vibrancy of Cuban culture firmly centre stage. The company has developed an unrivalled reputation as an ensemble of magnetic performers with a boundary-pushing repertoire of work by both international and home-grown choreographers. 

The show features nine amazing dancers from the company, including Laura Rodríguez, who danced with Carlos in On Before at Norwich Theatre Royal last year. 

The programme 

End of time – Ben Stevenson was inspired by Stanley Kramer’s 1959 post-apocalyptic film On the Beach. The pas de deux reveals the last pair of civilizations and is an elegy from a space marred by death. 

Faun is inspired by Vaslav Nijinsky’s L’après midi d’un faune, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s masterpiece is set to Debussy’s original score with additional music from Nitin Sawhney. 

Impronta brings together modern and contemporary dance in an evocation of folk dances of Afro-Cuban heritage. The piece was created especially for Acosta Danza by Spanish choreographer Maria Rovira. 

Nosotros by Beatriz García & Raúl Reinoso takes you on a journey inside the couple. The choreographers release their experiences to reflect on the intermittences of relationships.  

The Death of a Swan – Michel Descombey took on Michel Fokin’s legacy to create The Death of a Swan, choreographed for a male dancer. Inspired by a true story, the choreographer visited the soul of classical beauty from contemporary times and created an elegy, a hymn to existence from the fragility of life. 

Soledad is a duo full of sensuality and emotion that explores the wild and tender aspects of a love relationship by Rafael Bonachela. 

Acosta Danza Up Close: An intimate evening of dance curated by Carlos Acosta is at Norwich Theatre Playhouse between 18 – 20 May. Tickets are selling fast. 

Book now!