Choreographer
Carlos Acosta
Music
Miguel Nunes
Performer
Carlos Acosta
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Tocororo:
A Cuban Tale
Carlos Acosta
Sadler's Wells
15 - 26 July 2003
A mysterious man sits at the side of the street watching a local dance troupe. A smile broadens across his face as he notices that their earthy movements cannot compare with his classical training. He catches the leader's eye and a dancing 'face-off' begins. He jumps into the air performing perfectly choreographed pirouettes whereas the dance leader gyrates around the stage to squeals of delight from his adoring pupils. They laugh at their leader's opponent whose conservative and strictly timed ballet movements appear ridiculous to the young crowd of onlookers.
The man, Tocororo, was sent away at an early age from his rural home to ballet school. His father didn't want to send him but thought that it was the best way to give his passionate son a bright future. The boy lived up to his father's aspirations for him as he grew into an extraordinarily talented ballet dancer and moved to the city to seek his fortune. Yet the bustling city lives by a different set of rules, rules that he must either dismiss or accept. In dismissing the city he would be walking away from a woman he loves and in accepting it he would be entering into an unpredictable future, which would go against his father's wishes. He must find in himself the strength to choose between two worlds.
Carlos Acosta plays the talented young Tocororo in his own choreographed work of the same name, at Sadler's Wells. He is a superb ballet dancer, yet here attempts to combine his enchanting talent with modern Cuban movement. The story pokes fun at his classical education yet it would be impossible not to appreciate his brilliant talent and as a result this weakens the story. He is so good it seems utterly unbelievable that any spectator could ridicule such strength and power combined with great delicacy of movement. The piece though is trying to say more about Cuba than Acosta. It gives an insight into the island's people, culture, and especially their huge passion for life. He concentrates on showing how strongly the Spanish and African traditions influence all areas of life and how one needs to appreciate this in order to understand Cuba.
As a project this may at times seem to be a little over-ambitious, especially in the attempt to combine classical ballet with Cuban modern dance. However, this isn't enough of a criticism to stop the pundits lauding Acosta as the next Nureyev. A title which I believe is well deserved.
Elizabeth Shenton
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