Book description
The rags-to-riches story of one of the world's greatest dancers, from
his difficult beginnings living in poverty in the backstreets of Cuba to
his astronomical rise to international stardom.
In 1980, Carlos Acosta was just another Cuban kid of humble origins,
the youngest son in a poor family named after the planter who had owned
his great-great-grandfather. With few options and an independent spirit,
Carlos spent his days on the streets, dreaming of a career in football.
But even at a young age, Carlos had extraordinary talent. At nine, he
was skipping school to win break-dancing competitions as the youngest
member of a street-gang for whom dance contests were only a step away
from violence. When Carlos's father enrolled him in ballet school, he
hoped not only to nuture his son's talent, but also to curb his
wildness. Years of loneliness, conflict and crippling physical effort
followed, but today the Havana street-kid is an international star.
This magical memoir is about more than Carlos's rise to stardom,
however. It is the story of a childhood where food is scarce but love is
abundant, where the soul of Cuba comes alive to influence a dancer's
art. It is also about a man forced to leave behind his homeland and
loved ones for a life of self-discipline, displacement and brutal
physical hardship. Carlos Acosta makes dance look effortless, but the
grace, strength and charm have come a cost - here, in his own words, is
the story of the price he paid. 'Carlos Acosta's trajectory from
street urchin to superstar is another astonishing example of the
transcendent power of dance. In this brutally honest account of his
struggle to reconcile two conflicting worlds, we discover the source of
inner conflict that has alchemized into passionate intensity on stage
and made him one of ballet's most thrillingly charismatic performers.'
Julie Kavanagh
'Warm and funny.' The Economist
'The dazzling Carlos Acosta is the Cuban Billy Elliot, a poor kid who
triumphed over prejudice and humble origins … Frankly, you couldn't make
it up … The crippling physical effort of becoming a ballet dancer, the
slog, the agony of injuries, the rivalries and bitchiness are vividly
evoked in Acosta's fascinating story.' Daily Mail
'The life of the ballet dancer Carlos Acosta has all the hallmarks of a
bestseller…in “No Way Home” Acosta's voice is instantly likeable, and
you follow his discovery of the trappings of the west and his quest to
make his name at the Royal Ballet with a mixture of wonder, respect and,
crucially, affection.' Financial Times Carlos Acosta was born in Cuba
in 1973. He started dancing when he was nine. From 1989 to 1991 he
performed throughout the world, guesting with companies including the
Compagnia Teatro Nuovo di Torino in Italy. Soon afterwards, he was made
a member of the National Ballet of Cuba, becoming Principal Dancer in
1994. In 1993, he made his American stage debut as the Prince in 'The
Nutcracker' and in 1998 became the first black principal dancer at The
Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. Over the years, Carlos has appeared as an
international guest artist in the USA, Russia, Holland, Chile,
Argentina, Greece, Japan, Italy, Germany and France.
In 2003, Carlos was featured in 'The Reluctant Ballet Dancer', a
programme in the Imagine series shown on BBC1.
