As ballet superstar Carlos Acosta takes up the reins at Birmingham Royal Ballet, his company of Cuban dancers embarks on a ten-venue nationwide tour of its latest programme, Evolution, opening at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 3 and 4 March.
The Evolution programme includes two works created especially for Acosta Danza and two contemporary dance classics.
In Paysage, Soudain, la nuit, Swedish choreographer Pontus Lidberg approaches Cuban culture through rumba, a genre of traditional Cuban music with African roots. It takes as its starting point a score by acclaimed Cuban composer Leo Brouwer with additional music by Swedish composer Stefan Levin and is set in a landscape installation Vientos by Cuban artist Elizabet Cerviño.
Barcelona-based Maria Rovira, former choreographer for the National Ballet of Cuba who choreographed the 2019 film Yuli about Acosta’s life and career, created the solo Impronta specially for company dancer Zeleidy Crespo whose training is rooted in the folkloric dance styles of Cuba.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun was inspired by the Ballet Russes L’apres-midi d’un faune set to Debussy’s original score with additional musical interventions by Nitin Sawhney. Costumes are by fashion designer Hussein Chalayan.
Christopher Bruce's Rooster is set to songs recorded by The Rolling Stones: "Little Red Rooster", "Lady Jane", "Not Fade Away", "Paint it Black", "Ruby Tuesday", "Play With Fire" and "Sympathy for the Devil". Originally created in 1991, it will feature a guest appearance from Acosta himself.
The spring 2020 Evolution tour includes audio-described performances for blind and visually-impaired patrons in Southampton, Bradford, Brighton, Canterbury, Salford, Plymouth and Newcastle.