Carlos Acosta, new member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Ballet School

July 20, 2020

The Royal Ballet School of London appointed dancer, choreographer and director Carlos Acosta as a new member of its Board of Governors.

Christopher Rodrigues, president of the Royal Ballet School, of the United Kingdom, welcomed Acosta with a message in which he highlighted the dancer's merit.

"I am delighted to welcome Carlos Acosta to the Board of Governors of the Royal Ballet School, and I know that he will bring to the school a passion for dance and a clear vision of its future. His perspective as the new director of Birmingham Royal Ballet will be invaluable in helping the School maintain its crucial relationship with the company".

Christopher Powney, artistic director of the Royal Ballet School, also expressed being "delighted that Carlos Acosta brings his energy and commitment to dance to the Royal Ballet School".

"His appointment is a celebration of the long-standing ties between the School and the Royal Ballet of Birmingham, a company in which many of our talented students have made their home. I look forward to working with Carlos as director of one of our great companies and also to receive his support as a governor. He will continue to be an inspiration to our young dancers and will play a key role in helping us successfully guide the future of the School", he considered.

Acosta hopes to bring "a broader perspective to the direction and future plans of the school".

"The presence and influence of Birmingham Royal Ballet on the Board provides a golden opportunity to celebrate our historical relationship with The Royal Ballet School", the Cuban evaluated.

Born in 1973, Acosta grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Havana and, at his father's insistence, was sent to train at the National Ballet School of Cuba. In 1990 he won the coveted Gold Medal at the Prix De Lausanne, where he caught the attention of the international dance world and catapulted his career.

Since then, Acosta has danced professionally with some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including the English National Ballet, the National Ballet of Cuba, the American Ballet Theatre and the Houston Ballet.

He made his home at The Royal Ballet in 1998, where he remained until 2015. He has danced leading roles in most of the major classical ballets, and has performed as a guest artist in practically every corner of the world.

At the 2015 National Dance Awards, Carlos Acosta received the De Valois Award for his career.

In addition to his work with The Royal Ballet, he also choreographed his semi-autobiographical show, Tocororo, which premiered in Havana in 2003 and was nominated for an Olivier Award. He continued developing his own very popular and award-winning shows in London and throughout Europe, including classical and contemporary repertoire.

Acosta retired from the Royal Ballet stage in 2015 with his own version of Carmen.

The dancer continues to perform contemporary dance and formed his own company, Acosta Danza, with great critical success. Through the International Foundation that bears his name, he provides opportunities to young dancers and choreographers whose talents would otherwise go unseen and unheard.

The Acosta Danza Academy opened its doors in Havana in September 2017 to its first intake of aspiring and talented young Cuban students.

In 2018, the film Yuli, which tells the story of his humble beginnings and his career in ballet, drew public and critical attention. He became director of the Royal Ballet of Birmingham in January of this year.