Carlos Acosta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Acosta
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Acosta in 2019
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| Born | 2 June 1973 Havana, Cuba
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| Citizenship | Cuban (by birthplace), British |
| Education | Cuban National Ballet School |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer |
| Current group | The Royal Ballet, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet |
| Former groups | English National Ballet National Ballet of Cuba Houston Ballet |
Carlos Yunior Acosta Quesada is a famous Cuban-British ballet dancer and director. He was born on June 2, 1973. Carlos is currently the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
He has danced with many top ballet companies around the world. These include the English National Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Houston Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. From 1998 to 2015, he was a main dancer with The Royal Ballet in London. In 2003, he became a "principal guest artist." This meant he could dance less with the Royal Ballet and perform more in other countries. He gave his last performance with The Royal Ballet in November 2015. It was in a ballet called Carmen, which he also created.
In January 2020, Carlos Acosta became the director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. He announced exciting plans for his first season. These included a special festival called "Curated by Carlos." He also planned performances with another famous dancer, Alessandra Ferri.
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Early Life and Training
Carlos Acosta was born in Havana, Cuba, on June 2, 1973. He was the youngest of 11 children in a family that didn't have much money. His father was a truck driver, and his mother often had health problems. Carlos grew up without toys and sometimes didn't even have shoes. He didn't get a birthday cake until he was 23 years old.
He spent his time playing football and break-dancing in the streets. Carlos was a very energetic child. His father thought that dance training would help him learn discipline. It would also give him a free lunch every day. So, Carlos began studying ballet at the Cuban National Ballet School. He learned from many great teachers there. In June 1991, he finished his studies with top grades and a gold medal.
A Star Dancer's Journey
Carlos Acosta quickly became famous in the early 1990s. He was still a teenager then. Dance companies in North America and Europe soon offered him leading roles. After dancing in Houston for about five years, Carlos joined London's Royal Ballet in 1998.
People often compared his amazing grace and athletic style to famous dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev. A newspaper in London once said he was "a dancer who slashes across space faster than anyone else." They also said his moves were "so clear and sharp they seem to throw off sparks." In 2019, he was the head judge at the Prix de Lausanne ballet competition.
Awards and Honors
Carlos Acosta has won many awards for his incredible dancing:
- 1990: Gold Medal at the Prix de Lausanne
- 1990: Grand Prix at the 4th International Dance Competition in Paris
- 1990: Vignale Danza Prize in Italy
- 1990: Frédéric Chopin Prize from the Polish Artistic Corporation
- 1991: Prize for Merit in the Young Talent Competition, Positano, Italy
- 1991: Osimodanza Prize, Italy
- 1991: Grand Prix at Cuba's Union of Writers and Artists (UNEAC) competition
- 1995: Dance Fellowship from the Princess Grace Foundation, United States
- 2004: Nominated for an Olivier Award
- 2008: Prix Benois de la Danse
- 2014: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to ballet
- 2023: Prix de Lausanne Lifetime Achievement Award
Dancing with Top Companies
From 1989 to 1991, Carlos Acosta performed all over the world. He danced with many different companies.
English National Ballet
In 1991 and 1992, Carlos danced with the English National Ballet in London. He performed in ballets like Cinderella and The Nutcracker. He often danced the role of the Prince.
National Ballet of Cuba
In 1992 and 1993, Carlos was part of the National Ballet of Cuba. He became a main dancer there in 1994. He toured with the company and danced important roles. These included Albrecht in Giselle and Basilio in Don Quixote.
Houston Ballet
In 1993, Carlos was invited to join the Houston Ballet in the United States. He became a principal dancer there. His first performance in America was as the Prince in The Nutcracker. He also danced as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake and Solor in La Bayadère.
The Royal Ballet
In 1998, Carlos Acosta joined The Royal Ballet in London. This was a very important step in his career. He performed many famous roles with them. These included Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried in Swan Lake, and Colas in La fille mal gardée. He also danced the Prince in The Nutcracker and Des Grieux in Manon.
Guest Artist Around the World
Carlos Acosta also became a "guest artist." This meant he could perform with many different companies without being a full-time member. He danced with the American Ballet Theatre in New York. He performed in ballets like Sleeping Beauty and The Dream. He also danced with the Paris Opera Ballet. Carlos has performed in countries like the US, Russia, Japan, Italy, and Australia.
Birmingham Royal Ballet
In January 2020, Carlos Acosta became the Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. He took over from David Bintley. In February 2020, he shared his plans for the 2020-2021 season. These plans included a three-week "Curated by Carlos" summer festival. This festival featured a new dance for Carlos and Alessandra Ferri.
The Birmingham Royal Ballet was also going to perform Carlos Acosta's Don Quixote. This was planned for the Birmingham International Dance Festival in June 2020. However, it was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, Carlos and the BRB released their first digital film. It was called "Empty Stage" and featured music by Benjamin Scheuer.
On Screen: TV and Film
Carlos Acosta has also appeared on television and in movies. In 1997, CBS News filmed him for their show 60 Minutes. This showed him dancing with the Houston Ballet and relaxing in Cuba.
He has been in two live BBC broadcasts from The Royal Opera House. He performed in Le Corsaire and as Franz in Coppélia. He was also featured in a BBC program called "The Reluctant Ballet Dancer" in 2003. In 2004, a film called Dance Cuba: Dreams of Flight came out. It featured Carlos and other dancers from the National Ballet of Cuba.
Carlos also appeared in a part of the movie New York, I Love You. His life story was told in the 2018 film Yuli: The Carlos Acosta Story. He even played himself as an adult in the movie!
Tocororo - A Cuban Tale
Tocororo is a special ballet created by Carlos Acosta himself. It has been performed in theaters all over the world and has received great reviews.
The ballet tells the story of a young Cuban boy. He leaves his family and home in the countryside to find a new life in the city. This story is based on some of Carlos Acosta's own experiences. The music for Tocororo was written by Miguel Nuñez. It mixes Cuban popular music with classical styles. A group of five Cuban musicians performs the music live on stage.
Carlos chose 17 dancers for the company from different Cuban dance groups. His younger nephew, Yonah Acosta, played the "young protagonist" in the ballet.
Movies Carlos Acosta Has Been In
- 2009: New York, I Love You
- 2013: Day of the Flowers
- 2016: Our Kind of Traitor
- 2018: Yuli: The Carlos Acosta Story
Personal Life
Carlos Acosta is married to Charlotte Holland, who is a writer. They have three children together. His nephew, Yonah Acosta, is also a dancer and actor.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Acosta para niños
