Carlos Acosta Headlines London Gala, Dancing Othello for the First Time Alongside His Daughter

August 9, 2026

Cuban dance icon Carlos Acosta returned to the Royal Opera House stage in London this week, headlining a five-performance run titled "Carlos Acosta: Myths and Modern Masters" from August 5 through August 9, 2026. The program brought together three companies closely tied to his career: Birmingham Royal Ballet, which he has directed since 2020; his own Havana-based troupe, Acosta Danza; and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, conducted by Paul Murphy.

The evening's centerpiece was Acosta's first-ever performance of the title role in José Limón's "The Moor's Pavane," a modern retelling of Othello, alongside Beatrice Parma as Desdemona, Miki Mizutani as Emilia and Max Maslen as Iago. The 53-year-old dancer, who stepped back from full-time classical ballet in 2016 but has continued to perform selectively, also appeared in Christopher Bruce's ensemble piece "Rooster" and in "Nosotros," an original duet set to live piano and cello that he danced with Acosta Danza member Amisaday Naara.

The program also carried a personal note: an excerpt from "Nutcracker in Havana," the Cuba-set version of the holiday classic that Acosta choreographed himself, featured his 14-year-old daughter, Aila Acosta-Holland, in the role of Clara, with Beatrice Parma and Enrique Bejarano Vidal dancing the Sugar Plum pas de deux. Critics who attended the run noted that Acosta's technique and stage presence remained undiminished more than three decades into his career, and the performances drew standing ovations from London audiences.