After over 20 years as one of the world’s leading ballet dancers, Carlos Acosta has embarked on a new endeavour – a company of his own. Acosta Danza, which launched in Cuba in 2016, will tour the UK for the first time this autumn, starting at Sadler’s Wells where it became an Associate Company last year.

Based in Havana, the company is entirely made up of Cuban dancers including Acosta himself, who will make occasional guest appearances. Speaking about the company, Acosta says “I had been asking myself for a long time what’s next? I wanted to help Cuba. I wanted to help my nation. I wanted to make bridges with other nations and make collaborations. I wanted my company to contribute to the artistic scene in the nation.” The company draws on a wealth of artistic talent that has previously been hidden from the world, and aims to develop new talent for the future.

Alongside existing pieces, the company will perform new commissions created by some of the world’s most exciting dance-makers. These new works will have one strict guideline: they must be inspired by the richness of Cuban culture.

The company dancers have trained in a variety of disciplines and will embrace many genres. Acosta continues “I wanted to create a company that doesn’t quite look like any other company in the country. A company that embraces all art forms and dance forms. You could dance something on pointe, something very avant-garde contemporary or even some folkloric elements and always from a Cuban perspective.”

Acosta Danza will tour the UK in autumn 2017, with the premiere at Sadler’s Wells 27 – 30 September.

Acosta Danza is produced by Sadler’s Wells and Valid Productions with coproduction support from The Movement and Festspielhaus St Pölten. The Movement is a dance producing partnership between Birmingham Hippodrome, The Lowry in Salford and Sadler’s Wells. Supported by Arts Council England, The Movement aims to nurture talent and bring large scale dance productions to even wider audiences.