Review: Ballet dancer Carlos Acosta’s farewell at Emirates Palace is a night to remember

The Cuban ballet dancer performs his swan song at Abu Dhabi Festival.

Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta performs at Emirates Palace as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Festival

Given that Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta’s performance at Emirates Palace on Monday night was part of his farewell world tour, you might have expected it to be full of the pomp and fanfare befitting his lofty reputation.

Instead, he kept things low-key, yet nonetheless colourful.

His Middle Eastern debut, the first of two performances on consecutive nights as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival, was vibrant affair showcasing his mastery of both the classic ballet canon and more modern pieces.

The vibe was low-key and intimate. The performance began with Acosta and his 10 fellow Cuban dancers entering a stage set that resembled a dance studio. Each dancer limbered up before taking centre stage for their solos and ensemble pieces.

With Acosta handpicking the cast, the performance was not only superb, but a showcase of Cuba’s ballet culture.

Luis Valle and Veronica Corveas were riveting in Winter Dreams. Both exuded chemistry and candour as they portrayed two lovers struggling to accept their doomed fate.

The mournful tone continued with Gabriela Lugo's delicate solo turn in Dying Swan, only to perk up with Acosta's heroic arrival in Diana & Acteon.

At 42 years old and in stunning shape, Acosta displayed deep musicality in his technique. Boasting more than just those peerless sharp lines, his movement has a sensual rhythm that emotionally engages the audience.

In act two, the classical shackles were truly cast off. The stage set also received a much-needed lift with a new cafe setting that formed the backdrop for one of Acosta's celebrated routines, Les Bourgeois. The humorous number featured him playing an inebriated cafe diner trying to make sense of the world. While Acosta perhaps hams it up a little in the acting stakes, there was nothing ambiguous about his effervescent flow.

The performance ended with the exuberant tango-inspired ensemble number, Majisimo. It was a rather fitting end that hinted at Acosta's future – heading a ballet-school project in Cuba.

At the end of the night, Acosta finally left the stage with his young dancers who embody his legacy to the ballet world. It was a fitting tribute to a spectacular career.

• Carlos Acosta and Friends will perform at the Emirates Palace Auditorium on Tuesday, April 26, at 8pm. Tickets from Dh125, at www.timeouttickets.com. For more information, visit www.abudhabifestival.ae