ACOSTA DANZA - 23RD SEPTEMBER
On a somewhat chillier September evening a small group of us were fortunate enough to celebrate 10 years of Acosta Danza with a slice of Havana in London through ‘A Decade in Motion’.
Carlos Acosta was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1973 and following a late but dazzling start in ballet at the age of 9, he became the English National Ballet’s youngest ever principal dancer, at 18. He went on to join the Royal Ballet in London in 1998, where he became a firm audience favourite. In 2016 he founded his company, Acosta Danza following his retirement from The Royal Ballet two years earlier.
Acosta Danza has spent a decade cultivating Cuba’s emerging dance talent, blending classical and contemporary techniques to create a distinctive repertory rooted in the island’s rich history and culture. Since its inception, the company has pushed artistic boundaries, fostering innovative dancers who redefine the possibilities of movement whilst simultaneously celebrating Cuban identity.
The celebratory programme at Sadler’s Wells opened with renown Cuban choreographer George Céspedes’s ‘La Ecuación’ (“the equation”). Céspedes has created his own style of social dance which embraces Cuban flair alongside a mathematical precision.
98 Días (98 Days) followed, by Olivier Award winning Spanish Venezuelan choreographer Javier de Frutos, and was set in 1920s Cuba, inspired by the life of Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca. The poet found himself so enchanted by Cuba that a short visit turned into the happiest 98 days of his life. This vibrant work captured how it feels to fall in love with a place far from home.
We were then treated to Llamada (Gesture) which was created for Acosta Danza in 2023 by acclaimed Spanish choreographer Goyo Montero. Federico García Lorca is also the source of inspiration for this piece, which draws on his poem “Ode to Walt Whitman” and explores sexuality, rage and faith.
Finally De Punta a Cabo (From end to end) by Alexis Fernández and Yaday Ponce, performed by the entire ensemble, closed the evening. The piece is set against the Malecón esplanade – an iconic five miles stretch featuring landmarks of Cuba’s architecture along the Havana coast. De Punta a Cabo showcased the breadth and variety of Cuban dance culture, from classical dance to salsa, on pointe shoes and with bare feet.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening which was generous in spirit, explosive, full of charisma and very absorbing.
HAMPSTEAD WALK - 13TH SEPTEMBER
The first of our autumnal walks began at Hampstead underground station where we gathered on a bright blue sky morning. We were about to explore one of London’s best known and loved open spaces, Hampstead Heath. At 320 hectares it is a beautiful landscape which has proved attractive to many artists including John Constable. On this Saturday morning we would find it filled with many people enjoying the scenery and fresh air, the many varied paths and the pretty bathing ponds.
We firstly made our way to No. 2 Willow Rd, a building considered one of the most important Modernist houses in Britain, built by Ernö Goldfinger in 1937-9. It was not appreciated by everyone at the time. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, objected and took revenge by naming one of his principal villains after the architect!
In minutes we were skirting one of the first of a number of attractive Hampstead ponds, which reflect the Heath’s early use as a water supply for London. We passed the Mixed Bathing Pond before ascending Parliament Hill, the summit of which gave us views over London and up to Highgate. We were soon skirting the Men’s Bathing Pond and leaving the Heath via Merton Lane then climbing up to Witanhurst, the largest private home in London, built for the soap magnate Sir Arthur Crossfield in 1913.
We then explored Waterlow Park, with a view of Highgate cemetery before making our way to Kenwood House where we enjoyed a bite to eat. After a lovely pause we continued our walk past Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Monolith-Empyrean’ before entering winding woodland paths. A short shower did not deter us. We took in the squat memorial to the 1987 hurricane, enjoyed the picturesque view from Viaduct Bridge, passed an ice-house and eventually ascended steps to Jack Straw’s Castle, one of Hampstead’s most famous pubs.
After a short walk past Whitestone Pond and into Hampstead Grove, lined with many fine houses and then up Flask Walk, we were soon back at the start of this enchanting walk.
A wonderful start to the weekend with a catch up with friends from our Lyceum family!
WESTMINSTER ABBEY EVENING TOUR - 21ST JUNE
The Purcell Club’s evening tour of Westminster Abbey gave us a unique and intimate experience of one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Held just once a month, these after-hours tours take place in the serene quiet of the Abbey once it has closed to the public, allowing us to explore its ancient spaces in a more reflective and atmospheric setting. Members of the Purcell Club, a vocal ensemble of former Abbey choristers, give their services in order to put on these tours and all the profits from ticket sales go to the support the Abbey and a range of small charities.
We started our tour by assembling in the Cloisters for a warm welcome by a member of the Purcell Club and took seats in the Nave where the first piece of sacred music was sung. Our very knowledgeable speaker described the history and architecture of the Abbey in some detail moving from one location of interest to the next, including the Quire (with its beautifully carved wooden stalls where the choir and clergy sit), the Sacrarium, High Altar, and Cosmati Pavement where monarchs are crowned (the Cosmati pavement is a medieval mosaic floor dating back to 1268), St Edward the Confessor’s Shrine (who started rebuilding the Abbey between 1042 and 1052 ), Henry VII’s Chapel (it is the Chapel of the Order of the Bath with its impressive knights’ banners hanging over the stalls and its magnificent fan vaulted ceilings) and finally Poets’ Corner (the final resting place of Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, to name but a few). At various points there was a pause for members of the Purcell Club to sing suitable musical pieces ranging from 16th to 21st century. On returning to the Nave for the final part of the tour, a short piece was played by one of the abbey organists to demonstrate the Abbey’s magnificent organ installed for the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
What made this tour truly special was the addition of live sacred music. The music resonated beautifully through the Abbey’s stone arches, transforming the tour into a spiritual and sensory journey unlike any other.
