Among Carlos Acosta’s proudest achievements today is that audiences worldwide seek out the name Acosta Danza—the company he founded a decade ago in his native Cuba—beyond his own fame.

“It is seen as something that represents the country; that was one of the main goals to achieve: when Acosta Danza performs outside Cuba, it is our country dancing on stage,” the director stated in exclusive comments to Prensa Latina.

The ensemble will celebrate a decade of history this weekend at the National Theater, with performances on September 5, 6, and 7—ten years that, according to the creator, have flown by.

“If you look back, it seems like just yesterday we were at the National Ballet School, working in the early days and trying to shape the idea of a company that would bring together contemporary and variety dancers with ballet dancers, all capable of taking on any choreographic challenge,” he reflects.

The dancer, choreographer, and maestro dreamed of artists who could tackle everything from urban dances to folkloric performances, as this mix reflects the essence of his company’s concept.

“It was truly difficult to balance the ensemble and integrate artists from different backgrounds into a single unit. But by the second year, the emergence of something completely different was already noticeable,” recounts the only Cuban to hold the National Dance Award in Cuba and, simultaneously, in the United Kingdom, where he directs the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

There, this year, Acosta was recognized as Lord Mayor for his exceptional contributions to the city. However, his prior career as a star of the Royal Ballet in London not only earned him the title of Sir but also placed him in the pantheon of universal dance history.

The idol of generations of dancers worldwide assures that his intention was never to compete with the companies already existing in his country—quite the opposite.

“I conceived my project as a synthesis of the knowledge of those groups. In a way, Acosta Danza is also a tribute to the three great national companies: the National Ballet of Cuba, Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, and the Conjunto Folclórico Nacional,” he detailed.

Over the past decade, Acosta has connected his company with extraordinary choreographers such as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Justin Peck, María Rovira, Marianela Boán, Goyo Montero, Saburo Teshigawara, Pontus Lidberg, Christopher Bruce, Jorge Crecis, among others.

He even returned to the stage with his customary elegance and legendary skills as a partenaire to delight audiences in various nations.

“I won’t say everything has been easy because that wouldn’t be true. We’ve had to face difficulties. We postponed some projects we started with, but we never stopped, and that determination has brought us to where we are today,” he affirmed.

In 2025, Acosta Danza received the UK National Dance Award as Best Mid-Size Company and boasts other accolades in the European country, where it can pride itself on having been selected year after year among the best ensembles performing on its stages.

“Those who work at Acosta Danza have a strong sense of belonging and cherish what the company represents. With that alone, much of the journey is already won,” he asserted.

Acosta believes that he and his company still have much to do, “but we can already feel satisfied because Acosta Danza is here, it breathes, it has many good plans ahead, and it has earned recognition both inside and outside Cuba.”