Carlos Acosta is bringing his Premieres Plus programme to the Belfast Festival at the end of this month. Matthew McCreary talked to him for the Belfast Telegraph.
On his family
My parents didn't know about art or ballet. I was born into a family which was very simple — no books and no intention to do anything extraordinary. But at the same time they gave me a knowledge of humility and the fact that it is always good to work hard for what you want.”
On Premieres Plus
The show is an attempt to create a hidden narrative, with existing pieces that have been previously choreographed. I team up with Zenaida Yanowsky and what you will see are two classical dances evolving into a contemporary dance form.
“The show has a bit of a ‘down' spirit to it. I created it at around the time when I lost my mother and my sister, so it has a spiritual aspect to it. But at the same time it's sad in a way.”
On Caribbean happiness
This is where I lived and, in a way, what I bring to my dancing — the essence of people who are by nature very happy because of the Caribbean sunshine and the fact that there is always blue sky. It's what the critics comment on when I am dancing. But this show has no trace of Caribbean sunshine. Quite the opposite. It is gloomy and thoughtful but at same time hopefully enjoyable as well.”
On the Irish
I remember people being very friendly, taking time to point you in the right direction or they would grab you by the hand and take you there. I was struck by how friendly they were and it has always stuck in my mind.”
Read more: Belfast Telegraph
Carlos Acosta & Zenaida Yanowsky will be performing in Premieres Plus 2011, October 27-29, 7.30pm, Grand Opera House, Belfast
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
