Carlos
Acosta

Benois de la Danse laureate

Benois de la Danse nominee

Born in Havana, he trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba and won the Gold Medal at the Prix de Lausanne (1990). He was a Principal with ENB, 1991-1992, danced with National Ballet of Cuba, 1992-1993 under Alicia Alonso, and was a Principal with Houston Ballet, 1993-1998 under Ben Stevenson.

He joined The Royal Ballet in 1998 and became a Principal Guest Artist in 2003. He has written and choreographed his own semi-autobiographical show, Tocororo, which broke all box offices records at Sadlers Wells in London where he has also brought his own hugely popular and award-winning classical show with guest artists from the Royal Ballet. He has performed as guest principal artist with all the leading ballet companies around the world and remains in great demand.

He recently won a coveted award at the 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards winning Outstanding Achievement In Dance Award for his programme of work and performances at Sadler▓s Wells in 2006.

He has performed the principal male role in nearly every classical ballet and most recently performed the role of Spartacus with the Bolshoi to great critical acclaim in Moscow, London and Paris.

He is appearing again with the Royal Ballet as Principal Guest Artist in the 2007/8 season where his performances include La Bayadere, Romeo & Juliet, L▓Apres-midi d▓un Faune and Dances at a Gathering.

His autobiography No Way Home was published in October 2007.

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