Picture: Johan Persson
Nutcracker in Havana was reviewed at the Southbank Centre, London, where it continues until 15 December 2025. The tour continues until 28 January 2025.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Nutcracker in Havana is a joyous reimagining of the Christmas classic. Cuban-born Carlos Acosta transforms the audience to sunny Havana, with an aerial tour (courtesy of Nina Dunn’s set and video design) across the capital and rural land.
Here the story comes alive with traditional dancing and outfits. The use of the vibrant costumes, the set and props creates a carnival-like atmosphere, representative of the story, which stems away from the classical Nutcracker narrative. The uncle of Clara returns home, where he hands out Christmas gifts. After studying magic, he transforms the family home into a mansion. However, his magic takes a darker turn, transforming the rats in the house into human-size creatures, and a battle between the Mambises and the rats break out. Clara is then transferred to Candy Land, where each character presents a beautiful dance to Clara. She then falls back to sleep.
Acosta’s choreography explores a range of mesmerising, contemporary and balletic movements. The Acosta Danza company and guests utilise captivating partner work, including jumps and lifts as well as extraordinary pirouettes. The narrative is showcased through the dancers’ connections with each other and the pedestrian-like movements. The stage props add a light-hearted feel, including the Christmas tree decorated with cola and beer cans, which showcases Acosta’s Cuban childhood.
The narrative of the traditional Nutcracker remains similar with the ‘around the world’ dances, with the inclusion of Melisa Moreda and Frank Junior dancing the Spanish dance and Amisaday Nara and Chay Deivis dancing the Arabian dance.
The famous pas de deux follows, with Laurretta Summerscales’ incredible alignment, flexibility and extension and Yasiel Hodelin Bello’s outstanding mobility and jumps. Customising the narrative, the dancers wear clogs, which emphasise the musical arrangement of Pepe Gavilondo’s Latin arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s score. This has an uplifting and cheerful twist on the original Nutcracker music, hearing the varied sounds from the trombone and saxophone – giving the score a Cuban sound.
I expect this Nutcracker in Havana will be seen during the Christmas holidays for many years to come!
Lydia Drayton-Corbin
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