Carlos Acosta
Ballet director and retired dancer
Carlos Acosta was born in Havana and rose from a tough childhood in one of the city’s poorest districts to become one of the most celebrated dancers of his generation. After winning the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in 1990, he became the youngest ever Principal Dancer at the English National Ballet before going on to achieve international acclaim with Houston Ballet and the Royal Ballet, where he danced many of the great classical roles and later choreographed productions including Don Quixote and Carmen. Alongside his extraordinary dance career, he has written books, founded Acosta Danza in Cuba, and championed opportunities for young dancers through his international foundation and academy. Since 2020, he has served as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet
