King of ballet Carlos Acosta appointed director of Birmingham Royal Ballet

Carlos Acosta, one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers, has been announced as the new director of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

This appointment is a major fete for Birmingham Royal Ballet as their current director, David Bintley, steps down in July 2019 after holding the position for 24 years.

Hailing from an underprivileged background in Cuba and rising to the very highest rank of ballet, Carlos Acosta’s rags-to-riches story is truly the stuff of dreams. He is very excited about the appointment and hopes to introduce diversity in future productions.

He said the announcement to work with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, which is based at the Birmingham Hippodrome, was a “tremendous honour and privilege”. He added, “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.”

Carlos Acosta also paid tribute to departing director David Bintley whose work has ensured Birmingham Royal Ballet remains a top international dance company, “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.”

Sir David Normington, the chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet, confirmed the appointment of Carlos Acosta and said, “This is a great moment. 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.”

Carlos Acosta is famed for bringing a raw and exciting energy in his performances and has inspired a new generation of dancers. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest dancers of all time and his appointment will delight Birmingham dance audiences.