The Royal Ballet School has appointed dancer, choreographer and Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta to its Board of Governors.
Born in 1973, Acosta grew up in one of Havana’s poorest districts and, at the insistence of his father, was sent to train at the National Ballet School of Cuba. Since then, he has danced professionally with some of the world’s most prestigious companies including English National Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, American Ballet Theatre, and Houston Ballet. He made his home at The Royal Ballet in 1998, retiring from the Company in 2015.
In the 2014 New Year’s Honours List, Carlos was awarded the CBE after staging his new production of Don Quixote at the Royal Opera House, and choreographing a new production of Guys and Dolls for the West End. In 2018, the film Yuli told his story. He became Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in January 2020.
Christopher Powney, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet School, said, "I am thrilled that Carlos Acosta will bring 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 Birmingham Royal Ballet—a company that so many of our talented students have made their home. I look forward to working with Carlos as the Director of one of our great companies and also receiving his support as a Governor. He will continue to be an inspiration to our young dancers and play a key role in helping us to successfully steer the future of the School."