Visit to Acosta Danza Centre
LBC members watched Carlos Acosta and dancers at Acosta Danza in rehearsal for works to be performed at the Royal Opera House and Sadlers Wells East
Photo (L-R): Alexander Arias, Thalia Cordin, Paul Brando & Carlos Acosta
Visit to Acosta Dance
Tuesday 26th May 20026
The sixteen members who attended the Acosta Dance Foundation studios in Woolwich enjoyed an amazing afternoon. Firstly, we were able to watch the talented group of dancers from Acosta Danza Yunior and then we were lucky enough to be the first people to watch Carlos Acosta rehearse with guest dancers from Acosta Danza for his forthcoming programme Carlos Acosta: Myths and Modern Masters at the Royal Opera House.
For the first 30 minutes we watched the dancers from the Acosta Danza Yunior, rehearse Capriccio by Kit Holder, who choreographed the piece. This exciting company of young dancers was founded in 2023 to provide an initial platform for the next generation of professional dancers who have recently graduated from the Acosta Dance Academy in Havana. Kit Holder’s inspiration for the ballet was from one of René Magritte’s most famous series of paintings ‘The Lovers’. Capriccio animates the protagonists of these instantly recognisable images of a couple embracing, their faces covered by cloth. The dancers rehearsed scenes from the ballet, concentrating on timing and interpretation. Capriccio can been seen in Next Generation at Sadler's Wells East in June
We then moved to the main studio to watch a rehearsal of Rooster, choreographed by Christopher Bruce, led by former Rambert dancer Stephen Wright. First staged in 1991 the piece consists of 8 songs from the Rolling Stones which are used to convey the imagery of 1960’s London.
Ten dancers, with Carlos Acosta in the lead role, rehearsed the steps and honed their “swagger”, central to the choreography in a small space ahead of their performance at the Royal Opera House and a much larger stage.
It was a privilege to watch these dancers performing with the company’s founder, the rehearsal, and inter-action between the performers was full of joy, and it is clear the respect and admiration all the dances have for Carlos. He was not only quick to praise the quality of their work, and his appreciation of their performances, but there was also an honest acknowledgement of how quick their recovery time was, compared to him. Carlos’s dedication to helping secure the future of the next generation of dancers is to be admired.
Report by Jill Samuels © The London Ballet Circle
