A major new dance school is opening in London in September.
Carlos Acosta, acclaimed ballet star and director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, is set to open the Acosta Dance Centre in Woolwich Works in September 2023.
The centre will offer dance classes, courses and performances aimed at young people, and to extend the work of the Acosta Dance Foundation, the charity that Acosta set up in 2011 which is already located at Woolwich Works.
Also located there will be the Carlos Acosta Choreographic Fellowship, for emerging choreographers, residency programmes for artists to collaborate, and the Acosta Advanced Training Hub, which is a free pre-professional training programme for students aged 18 and above.
Carlos Acosta said in a press statement: “The Acosta Dance Centre stands as the epitome of my life’s work, representing a global sanctuary for dancers of all backgrounds and a beacon of inspiration for the world of dance. It is a dream come true, born from my passion to create a place where dance could bring people from all walks of life together, to celebrate joy and creativity through movement.”
Managing Director of the Acosta Dance Foundation, Javier Torres, said: “The foundation is delighted to have this exceptional dance centre based in London fulfilling our ambitions and our cause of ‘creating a dancer in every home. Our ultimate goal is to unleash the passion for dance within individuals, igniting their passion, nurturing their quality and fuelling their dance ambitions – and the centre stands as the perfect avenue to provide just that.”
The centre will also provide community activities and education for local schools in the Greenwich and Woolwich areas, plus the Acosta Ballet Camps will provide training to young ballet dancers.
