Acosta Danza returns to Birmingham for two nights only this week. In a series of breathtaking pieces which fuse classical and modern dance, and lead us from the dawn of humanity to an all-night party, Cuban Eclectico offers up a slice of Cuban life, in turns mesmerising, energetic and joyful.

The company's Director General is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB) own Artistic Director, Carlos Acosta, who provides a natural link, bringing Acosto Danza to the heart of Birmingham's dance scene. The production consists of five contrasting pieces - each imbued with bursting energy and controlled, elastic movement. The show lasts two hours, with one interval and pauses between each piece so the dancers - and audience - can catch their breath.

Cuban Eclectico opens with Satori, by Cuban choreographer and Acosta Danza principal Raúl Reinoso. This tour marks the first time he has stepped onstage to join the dancers in Satori. Fans of BRB might recognize the name - Raúl also choreographed a movement of Black Sabbath the Ballet.

Satori itself is mesmerizing, beginning with dancers joined at the waist in an enormous purple cloth, almost like a communal skirt, restricting their movement. A central figure emerges, elevated from the rest by appearing en pointe, in a carefully designed injection of classical balletic elegance, which becomes a constant theme in Cuban Eclectico. One of the motifs in Satori is a loose, primal movement style, in which the dancers magically transform into early humans, while still retaining the preciseness expected of the company.

Faun, choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui follows - a duet which continues the primal notes introduced by Satori. This is danced against the backdrop of a woodland glade, with Claude Debussy's Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune interspersed with additional percussive, angular music from Nitin Sawhney. The two dancers meet with cautious interest, before beginning a  tense, winding love story - at times animalistic, at others extremely human.

The programme moves away from the abstract into two pieces celebrating the energy of youth. Paysage, soudain, la nuit, choreographed by Pontus Lidberg, features bright, rhythmic group movement, punctuated by distractable characters pairing off - the piece becomes a study of wordless human connection. This is mirrored in the final piece, which sees night fall over an urban shoreline, where young friends blend classical ballet and street dance - at one point the two disciplines face off against each other - to a loved-up conclusion.

In Cuban Eclectico Acosta Danza provides a wealth of perfectly blended styles, scenes and inspiration, offering up a delectable array of treats from a truly remarkable company. 

Five Stars

Cuban Eclectico was reviewed on Tuesday 13 May by Jessica Clixby at Birmingham Hippodrome, where it shows again on Wednesday 14 May