‘Greatest dancer’ takes bull by horns at Royal Ballet
INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED dancer Carlos Acosta has taken up his role as the new director of Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The appointment of Acosta followed the departure of David Bintley as director and an international competition to find his replacement.
Acosta, said: “It is a tremendous honour and privilege to have been appointed to lead Birmingham Royal Ballet.
“I am 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 worldleading classical ballet company in the 21st century.”
Chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet Sir David Normington said: “This is a great moment for Birmingham
Royal Ballet. We have 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.
“It is a statement to the whole dance world that, building on David Bintley’s great legacy, Birmingham Royal Ballet intends to remain a major force for classical ballet in the UK and beyond.”
Born in Havana, the youngest of 11 children in an impoverished family, Acosta went on to train at the National Ballet School of Cuba, winning the prestigious Prix de Lausanne at the age of 16, before enjoying a celebrated 30-year career in dance with many of the world’s leading ballet companies. He was a Principal with the Royal Ballet for 17 years and danced all the major classical, and many contemporary roles. He is the greatest male dancer of his generation and, in many people’s eyes, one of the greatest dancers of all time.