This autumn, choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra and his company DeNada Dance Theatre bring their critically acclaimed show Mariposa, to Lighthouse on 15 October. We sat down to ask him some questions about the show…
Hi Carlos, we see that the BBC described you as the Pedro Almodóvar of dance! How do you feel about that?
I think that’s the best thing anyone’s ever said about me! Pedro Almodóvar, the Spanish film director, is my biggest inspiration. His films, like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown or All About My Mother are full of larger-than-life characters, amazing colour and costumes, great music, dark humour and very dramatic storylines. Those are all things I try to bring into my work, especially in Mariposa. When I choreograph, I like to think like a film or theatre director, so that all audiences understand the story I’m telling. So to be likened to Almodóvar, one of the greats of film, means a lot!
If you had to describe yourself, what three words would you use?
Theatrical, entertaining and (somewhat) wacky!
Your latest show Mariposa is billed as a Queer Tragedy inspired by Puccini’s iconic opera Madame Butterfly. Can you tell us a bit more about the show?
Since I was a boy, I have been obsessed with Madame Butterfly and its musical version, Miss Saigon. It is such a powerful and heart-wrenching story of love, hope and sacrifice. In the opera, a young geisha sacrifices everything about herself, including her life, out of love for an American sailor. My dream was to create my own version. This version speaks of how LGBTQ+ people often have to make so many sacrifices to be loved and accepted – such as losing our families, friends, and sometimes even having to completely change who we really are inside. It makes me think of how much we are sometimes ready to change for a partner – I think everyone has experienced that at some point in their lives!
As well as Madame Butterfly, you have created dance shows inspired by the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Christopher Marlowe’s play Edward II and novelist Angela Carter’s book The Tiger’s Bride. What draws you to adapting other art forms for the stage?
I get very excited about revisiting stories from the past to see how they are still important to us today. For example, Marlowe’s Edward II tells the true story of a medieval English king who was gay and in love with another man. That story tells us that gay people have always existed, not just now – isn’t that amazing? It’s also exciting to look at stories we all know such as Beauty and the Beast from a completely different point of view. In my version, told from the Beast’s perspective, the real monsters are the humans who mistreat animals and anyone who’s different, not the actual Beast. I think that’s what wonderful about these stories, and why they’re still around – because they can tell us so much about the world around us.
You were born in Gran Canaria and your shows often evoke your Hispanic cultural heritage. Mariposa is set in post-revolution Cuba, for example. Can you tell us a little about that?
Having lived in England for 20 years, I think I choreograph to cure my homesickness! I love to share the sounds, the colour, the feelings and the drama of my Hispanic culture in my work. The Canary Islands and Cuba have very strong cultural connections, so I set Mariposa in Cuba because it felt much more personal than the original opera, which happens in Japan. Post-revolution Cuba (1959 onwards) was a very difficult social and political time, where many people’s hopes and dreams had to be contained, so it felt like a good place and time to explore this story of repressed desires.
Finally, why should people come and see Mariposa?
I think Mariposa can be a very special night out. It is very much like going to watch a film or a play without words, but more immersive – you’ll feel like you’re transported from the UK directly to Cuba! The original music is upbeat, with lots of Latin rhythms, and the costumes are gorgeous. Our cast is excellent: explosive dancers who will keep you on the edge of your seat with their gripping storytelling. There’s a mix of dance styles: from Latin to ballet and contemporary. Above all, I think it’s a really moving love story, that anyone, of any gender, age and background, can relate to.
:: Tickets available at Mariposa : A queer tragedy inspired by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly – Lighthouse (lighthousepoole.co.uk)