Press Release: Carlos Acosta CBE appointed to Board of Governors of the Royal Ballet School

[Jan McNulty]

CARLOS ACOSTA CBE APPOINTED TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL

 

DIRECTOR OF BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET JOINS THE SCHOOL’S BOARD OF GOVERNORS IN EX- OFFICIO POSITION

 

 

The Royal Ballet School has appointed internationally renowned dancer, choreographer and Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta to its Board of Governors.

 

Born in 1973, Carlos 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. In 1990, he won the coveted Gold Medal at the Prix De Lausanne, capturing the attention of the international dance world and catapulting him into an international dance career.

 

Since then, Carlos 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. He has danced principal roles in most of the major classical ballets, and has performed as a guest artist in virtually every corner of the world.

 

In the 2014 New Year’s Honours List, Carlos was awarded the CBE, capping the end of a remarkable year which saw him stage 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 the National Dance Awards 2015, Carlos was awarded the De Valois Award for Lifetime Achievement.

 

In addition to his work with The Royal Ballet, Carlos also choreographed his semi-autobiographical show, Tocororo, which premiered in Havana in 2003 and was nominated for an Olivier Award. He continued to develop his own highly popular and award-winning shows in London and throughout Europe, including both classical and contemporary repertoire.

 

Carlos retired from The Royal Ballet stage in 2015 with his own version of Carmen.

 

Carlos continues to perform contemporary dance and formed his own company, Acosta Danza, to critical acclaim. The culture and vibrancy of his country of birth continue to have a big influence on his career. He has created the Carlos Acosta International Dance Foundation, giving opportunities to young dancers and choreographers whose talents might not otherwise be seen or heard. The Acosta Danza Academy opened its doors in Havana in September 2017 to its first intake of aspiring and talented young Cuban students.

In 2018, the film Yuli - telling the story of his humble beginnings and ballet career - attracted great public and critical acclaim.

 

He became Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in January 2020.

 

Christopher Rodrigues CBE, Chairman of The Royal Ballet School, said:

‘I am delighted to welcome Carlos Acosta to The Royal Ballet School’s Board of Governors, and know that he will bring a passion for dance and a clear vision for its future to the School. His perspective as the new Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet will be invaluable in helping the School to maintain its crucial relationship with his company’.

 

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’.

 

Carlos Acosta CBE said:

‘I'm delighted to have been invited to join The Royal Ballet School's Board of Governors, and look forward to bringing a wider perspective to the School's direction and future plans. Birmingham Royal Ballet's presence and influence on the Board brings a golden opportunity to celebrate our historic relationship with The Royal Ballet School’.

-ENDS-

 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Carlos Acosta

Born in Havana in 1973, Carlos trained at the National Ballet School of Havana in Cuba. After winning a succession of awards, including the Prix de Lausanne in 1990, he went on to dance professionally with the world’s most prestigious companies, with London’s Royal Ballet becoming his home. Carlos retired from classical ballet in 2016, after 28 years, having performed almost every classical role from Spartacus to Romeo.

 

Carlos created many award-winning shows throughout his ballet career including Tocororo and Carlos Acosta and Friends of The Royal Ballet. He also choreographed the Royal Ballet productions of Don Quixote and Carmen.

 

The culture and history of Carlos’s homeland have been important influences throughout his career and continue to be so following his establishment of his own dance company, Acosta Danza, in 2016. The company tours the world with its vibrant combination of classical and contemporary, fused with Cuban elements of dance. In 2017 Carlos opened his first Dance Academy through the Carlos Acosta International Dance Foundation.

 

Carlos was recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2014 when he was awarded a CBE. In the National Dance Awards 2015, he was awarded the De Valois Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2018 Carlos received 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, and in 2019 the Critics’ Circle Annual Award forOutstanding Services to the Arts. Yuli, a film inspired by his life, was met with critical acclaim on its release in April 2019.

 

Carlos Acosta became Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in January 2020.

 

The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School is one of the world’s greatest centres of classical ballet training which for generations has produced dancers and choreographers of international renown. From Margot Fonteyn, Antoinette Sibley, Anthony Dowell, Anya Linden, Darcey Bussell, Kenneth MacMillan and David Bintley, to a new generation currently making its mark on the world stage – Matthew Ball, Lauren Cuthbertson, Samara Downs, Francesca Hayward, Brandon Lawrence, Steven McRae, Delia Mathews, Vadim Muntagirov, Marianela Nuñez, Marcelino Sambé, Edward Watson and Christopher Wheeldon to name but a few.

 

Admission to the School is based purely on talent and potential, regardless of academic ability or personal circumstances. 88% of current students rely on financial support to attend the School.

 

The School’s mission is to nurture, train and educate exceptional young dancers for The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet and other leading UK and international companies, and to inspire the future of classical ballet training.

Its extensive Training and Access Programme aims to broaden access to The Royal Ballet School’s unique resources for primary school pupils, dance teachers and the general public.

 

Birmingham Royal Ballet

1931: Dame Ninette de Valois founds the Vic-Wells Ballet, renaming it the Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1939.

1946: The Sadler’s Wells Ballet relocates to the newly reopened Royal Opera House as resident company. De Valois establishes a second company at Sadler's Wells, the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet.

1956: With both companies now returned to the Royal Opera House, a Royal Charter is bestowed upon Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, The Royal Ballet and the companies' school, The Royal Ballet School. Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet becomes The Royal Ballet (Touring Section).

1970: The Touring Company becomes The New Group.
1976: The New Group becomes Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet and Sir Peter Wright becomes Director. 1990: Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet relocates to Birmingham and becomes Birmingham Royal Ballet. 1995: Sir David Bintley succeeds Sir Peter Wright as Director.
2020: Carlos Acosta succeeds Sir David Bintley as Director.

[Farawaydancer]

Always good news for the schools and students but it would be nice if he forged a closer relationship with the school a mile down the road from the company!

[sunrise81]

22 minutes ago, Farawaydancer said:

Always good news for the schools and students but it would be nice if he forged a closer relationship with the school a mile down the road from the company!

Exactly my thoughts too!!!

[Peanut68]

I thought Carlos Accosta had recently become Patron of Elmhurst Ballet School? Please correct me if I’ve got that wrong! Is this then a sign of forging closer links with the two schools closely aligned to the two ‘Royal’ companies (RB & BRB)?

It does seem that  ‘names’ are often linked left right & centre as they are regularly asked to align their name to help with prestige/fundraising etc (though some could potentially view these 2 asssociations as a conflict of interest....?) 

 

 

Edited July 17, 2020 by Peanut68
Added info

[bangorballetboy]

32 minutes ago, Peanut68 said:

I thought Carlos Accosta had recently become Patron of Elmhurst Ballet School? Please correct me if I’ve got that wrong! Is this then a sign of forging closer links with the two schools closely aligned to the two ‘Royal’ companies (RB & BRB)?

It does seem that  ‘names’ are often linked left right & centre as they are regularly asked to align their name to help with prestige/fundraising etc (though some could potentially view these 2 asssociations as a conflict of interest....?) 

 

 

 

Elmhurst's patron is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Acosta is their Vice President.

 

Elmhurst became the BRB's associate school in 2004 and the RBS has always been closely connected to the two Royal companies, so I don't think there's much change in any dynamics here.  Bintley was Artistic Advisor at Elmhurst when he was director of BRB.

 

It's also worth noting that Acosta's appointment as a governor of the RBS is ex-officio, i.e. it's by virtue of his position as director of BRB.

[Farawaydancer]

Yes, Acosta is one of Elmhurst’s VPs, along with Wayne McGregor. Doesn’t seem to make an awful lot of difference in terms of day to day involvement which is a shame; there’s the potential to do a lot of good in terms of working together but it never quite seems to work out that way. 

[SissonneDoublee]

Wayne McGregor gave a talk for Elmhurst students during  lockdown, and has been in several times working with upper school students in the last few years. Carlos Acosta was the guest speaker at the summer show gala last year and had only just taken up his post officially at BRB when lockdown started, but there is already talk of a project with the school. Their involvement with the school is definitely active

[dancefanatic]

17 hours ago, Farawaydancer said:

Always good news for the schools and students but it would be nice if he forged a closer relationship with the school a mile down the road from the company!

I agree, particularly as he is supposedly a vice president of the school!!  It would be fantastic if he attended more of the events put on at Elmhurst.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that things might improve before our two actually finish at the school!!

 

[Farawaydancer]

5 minutes ago, dancefanatic said:

I agree, particularly as he is supposedly a vice president of the school!!  It would be fantastic if he attended more of the events put on at Elmhurst.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that things might improve before our two actually finish at the school!!

 

Quite! 😂 Upper school seem to get a better deal than the lower school when it comes to working with outside guests, so let’s hope that continues!

[Out-the-other-side]

22 hours ago, dancefanatic said:

I agree, particularly as he is supposedly a vice president of the school!!  It would be fantastic if he attended more of the events put on at Elmhurst.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that things might improve before our two actually finish at the school!!

 

Mr Bintley was a frequent visitor to school - he attended summer shows, graduate showcases, Gala evenings,  appraisals, choreography, solos and other ‘friends’ events (often as an adjudicator) and prize giving ceremonies as well as being very actively involved in working with the students on performance pieces. This continued beyond his retirement from BRB. 
Since his announcement as new AD of BRB over a year ago, Mr Acosta has been into school twice - once to last year’s summer show gala evening and once to an event for the Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Whilst I am fully aware that Covid-19 has impacted upon opportunities for him to engage, this is nevertheless worrying, especially for the graduates. Contracts have been awarded to graduates from the RBS to BRB whilst Elmhurst’s own graduates have not been seen by Mr Acosta either in class or during their pre Covid graduate showcase. Whilst the two Royal companies may have parity, the two associated schools do not.