It is incredible to watch an athlete at 50. Their jumps may not be as high, or extensions as extreme, but that is all secondary. The command of space, the conveyance of a story, those are what matter. And Carlos Acosta at 50 somehow seems to have even more of those.
The programme consisted of a few pieces showcasing Acosta and his favourite partner, the ethereal Marianela Nunez, interspersed with pieces Acosta famously danced, and his choreographic work. The variety of the work on show was not only a showcase of Acosta’s own work and legacy, but at times felt like a time capsule of contemporary ballet, the array of styles coming together with the thread of storytelling from the dancers.
These events can have a nostalgic quality, yet the programme’s ending, focussed on new work and young dancers, was a beacon to the future and where ballet may go in the next 50 years.