Cuban first dancer Carlos Acosta opened the Acosta Dance Centre (ADC) in southeast London, an institution that stands as an international reference place for practitioners and creative professionals of dance.
The ADC is a dream come true that resulted from my passion to create a place where dance can bring together people from all walks of life, to celebrate joy and creativity through movement, the performer wrote on social media.
We strive to be the UK’s most trusted place for dance creation and networking, dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of quality and artistic innovation, the artist noted in the opening message.
According to the official website, the center is located at Woolwich Works, an inspiring cultural space, nestled on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich Royal Arsenal.
It has a multi-faceted approach that encompasses dance education, workshops and cultural events, while fostering creativity and talent among young people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
As we embark together on this exciting journey, Acosta said, we joyfully embrace Cuba’s rich cultural heritage, celebrating our shared identity, diversity and boundless creativity.
You will have the opportunity to take classes in ballet, contemporary dance, Afro-Cuban dance or popular dance forms rooted in Cuban culture, the dancer told the BBC. It will have classes in ballet, rumba, dancing for the orishas, salsa for beginners and casino, as well as flamenco and Afrobeat, among others.
Carlos Acosta has prodigious feet and a virtuosity that has allowed him to place the name of Cuban ballet with honors on the world’s greatest stages.
(With information from Prensa Latina)