Speaking of ballets for Christmas, the first one that comes to mind is often The Nutcracker. After many different versions of The Nutcracker by major dance companies, Carlos Acosta has carried out a brand new choreography, bringing the audience into The Nutcracker set in Cuba with his Cuban company, Acosta Danza.
After spending more than 30 years in Miami, Tío Elías returns home to Cuba to meet his niece and nephew, Clara and Fritz. It is Christmas time, and the whole family is preparing for the festive season. After Tío Elías returns, he brings an even more festive atmosphere to the occasion. During his time away from home, he masters magic. He transforms this humble house into a magnificent mansion, turns people's clothes into gowns, and brings gifts for the children. For Clara, he gives her a Nutcracker in the appearance of a Mambi soldier. And as night falls, Tío Elías's magic remains, taking Clara to another world...
The set (Nina Dunn) is quite simple, just a Christmas trees with empty beer and Coke cans hanging on it, grand stairs, a few chairs, and tassels hanging above the stage, leaving as much space as possible for the dancers. Projections are used extensively, clearly telling the audience where the characters are at each moment. However, because the set isn't abundant, there is sometimes a disconnection between the stage and the projections. The lighting (Andrew Exeter) changes with the environment, sometimes bright and sometimes dark, giving a good sense of atmosphere. The costumes (Angelo Alberto) are mostly brightly coloured and carry a cheerful festive mood.
Cuban culture permeates this ballet in several ways. In Tchaikovsky's original score, Pepe Gavilondo Peon incorporates the use of the electric guitar. In addition, Cuban instruments are also used extensively: the Cuban tres and Cuban lute, for example, transport the audience to this vibrant place at the first moment the music is heard. The clogs that Tío Elías gives his family to dance in are also part of Cuban music, known as chancletas. Originally, its main purpose was to keep the feet dry when walking outside to the baths. Nowadays, it has become an instrument that is extensively used by singers and dancers during Carnival time. When Clara dances with her family in the chancletas, the light rattle of the wooden soles gets the mood high immediately.
There is a strong sense of life in this work. The children often play games together, the boys run around with a football in their arms, and the elders, even if they have hunched backs and can't hear very well, still join in the children's fun. Rather than bringing the little girl Clara to a dreamlike wonderland, this Nutcracker is more like creating a paradise in reality.
Laura Rodriguez's Clara is lovely and witty, both Yasiel Hodelin Bello as Prince and Lauretta Summerscales as Sugar Plum Fairy hold a standard princess-prince quality, with solid skills in dancing. Alexander Verona's Tío Elías has a mystical air about him, and it's no surprise that he has the ability to bring Clara to this magical kingdom. Acosta's choreography is lively and fluid, well suited to the festive atmosphere of Christmas while the pas de deux stands out particularly.
In some of the Nutcracker productions, Clara is involved in this kingdom of sweets as the Sugar Plum Fairy. She meets with the lovely people, marries the prince happily, and eventually wakes up from her dream. In this production, Clara is more of a guest invited to the kingdom. Although Clara does not marry the prince in her dream, she becomes friends with all the people in the kingdom. Towards the end of this ballet, everyone puts on chancletas and dances together. No matter who they are and where they are from, they all have the same happiness.
Even though there have been so many versions of The Nutcracker, Carlos Acosta's Nutcracker in Havana has certainly shown a world unlike any other. With Christmas approaching, if you want to go to a more intimate and lovely land than a sumptuous and fairytale-like world, seeing this production is definitely a good choice.
Nutcracker in Havana is currently embarking on a UK tour, visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Milton Keynes Theatre and The Lowry in Salford. For more information and tickets, you can visit each theatre's respective website.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Johan Persson
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