Stage: Dance dance dance

With the recent ground breaking in Circus Street for the new South East Dance headquarters and programmes rich with dance at all of the city’s arts venues, it seems clear that Brighton and Hove will be the focal home for dance in the South East. Why not? The city has hosted most of the great contemporary dancers and dance companies for many years, at what was once the Gardiner Arts Centre and is now ACCA, at the Brighton Dome both during and outside the festival, and at the Theatre Royal where Rambert regularly perform.

Now the Brighton Dome Concert Hall is host to a new company. Following an exceptional career as a ballet star, international dance icon Carlos Acosta is launching his brand new company, Acosta Danza.

Based in Havana, the company is made up of the best dancers Cuba has to offer who have trained in both ballet and contemporary dance styles. They will perform new and existing pieces by Cuban choreographers who have rarely been seen outside the country, and commission new pieces from international choreographers who will take inspiration from their iconic nation.

Cuban choreographers who have rarely been seen outside the country

For their first UK tour, in which Acosta himself makes a guest appearance, they will perform works by Cuban choreographer Marianela Boán, international artist Jorge Crecis, Spanish dance-maker Goyo Montero, New York City Ballet resident choreographer Justin Peck, and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

The programme will include five works; ‘El cruce sobre El Niágara – The Crossing Over Niagara’, with choreography by Marianela Boan and music by Olivier Messiaen, ‘Belles Lettres’ with choreography by Justin Peck and music by Cesar Franck, ‘Imponderable’ with choreography by Goyo Montero and music by Silvio Rodriguez, ‘Mermaid’ with choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and music by Woojae Park, and ‘Twelve’ with choreography by Jorge Crecis and music by Vincenzo Lama.

Thursday 26 & Friday 27 October, 7.30pm, Brighton Dome, 01273 709709, brightondome.org