Acosta appointed BRB’s new director

Published: 15 January 2019
Reporter: Steve Orme

The “greatest male dancer of his generation”: Carlos Acosta Credit: Johan Persson

Carlos Acosta CBE is the new director of Birmingham Royal Ballet and will take up his appointment in January 2020.

It follows an extensive international search by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s board. Acosta will take over from David Bintley CBE who will stand down in July 2019 at the end of the current season.

Acosta said, “it’s a tremendous honour and privilege to have been appointed to lead Birmingham Royal Ballet. I’m a great admirer of its heritage and of what David Bintley has done to establish it as one of the country's leading classical ballet companies, following on from the wonderful foundations laid down by Sir Peter Wright.

“My ambition is to build on its classical traditions, to expand its repertoire and to reach out to new and more diverse audiences. I want to define what it is to be a world-leading classical ballet company in the 21st century.”

Sir David Normington GCB, chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet, said, “we’ve secured the greatest male dancer of his generation to be our new director. I know he will bring us his legendary artistry, energy and charisma and enable us to connect with new audiences, particularly in Birmingham.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, commented, “Birmingham Royal Ballet is an exceptional company, with an international reputation for the artistic quality of its work. As Carlos takes to the helm, we'd like to pay tribute to the commitment, contribution and charisma of David Bintley who leaves behind him an extraordinary legacy. We look forward to seeing Carlos build on this legacy, and to the company continuing to delight audiences with its array of classical and ground-breaking ballets.”

Born in Havana, Acosta trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba before enjoying a 30-year career in dance with many of the world's leading ballet companies.

Since retiring from the Royal Ballet he founded a Cuban dance company Acosta Danza and established his own dance academy in Havana which opened in September 2017.

His many awards include an Olivier Award for outstanding achievement in dance and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award from the Royal Academy of Dance in recognition of his standing as one of the most influential figures in dance today.

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