Carlos at 50, Royal Opera House

Multi-award-winning Carlos Acosta CBE is among the best loved, most admired dancers to have graced the stage at Covent Garden. He was a principal guest artist of the Royal Ballet from 2003 to 2016, during which time he dazzled and entertained with his unique combination of virtuoso technique and Cuban vitality.

He created many unforgettable roles, including The Royal Ballet's first black Romeo, in an emblematic partnership with Tamara Rojo's Juliet. He was also an elegant Siegfried in Swan Lake, an impassioned Des Grieux in MacMillan's Manon, and the very funny, irrepressible Colas in Ashton's La Fille Mal Gardée, in another memorable partnership with Marianela Nuñez.

And he tried his hand at staging and choreography with a lively, sunny production of the ultimate feel-good ballet, Don Quixote, where he delighted as the cheeky, resourceful, penniless barber who gets his girl, Basilio.

Carlos Acosta as Basilio in his own production of Don Quixote. Photo: ROH Johan Persson 2013
After appearing on all the main international ballet stages, Acosta retired from dancing in 2016 and went on to establish Acosta Danza, a small company based in Havana and aimed at showcasing the talent and vibrancy of young Cuban dancers.

In 2019 he became artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet; but has admitted that the pull of the stage remains powerful, and has returned the performance in carefully selected works, including a specially commissioned duet by contemporary choreographer Goyo Montero with another sacred monster of dance, Alessandra Ferri.

Now Acosta celebrates his 50th birthday with a special programme at the Royal Opera House, a stage which, he says, holds very special memories for him.

He will perform some of his favourite solos and pas de deux, including George Balanchine's Apollo and the celebrated Bedroom Scene pas de deux from Manon. Acosta will be joined by friends and guest artists including Royal Ballet principal Marianela Nuñez as well as dancers from Birmingham Royal Ballet and Acosta Danza.

This promises to be a very special occasion indeed and, given the esteem in which Acosta is held, is likely to sell out pretty quickly, so early booking is advisable.