Highlights

On Before is an intimate contemporary ballet made for two dancers. Acosta will dance with Laura Rodriguez from Acosta Danza, the company he founded in Havana. It is his most personal work to date. This performance showcases the highest caliber and mastery of a craft one can aspire to in dance, and the opportunity to witness this dancer’s greatness live is a once in a lifetime experience.

“It’s a very abstract and contemporary ballet that represents at once the mother, the lover, the full circle. My mother was the balance in my house to my father’s volatility. She was very soft and caring, very sweet, almost like a kid. I made this show to pay her homage,” says Carlos Acosta, CBE.

The performance features choreography by world-renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett, alongside Acosta’s choreography.

Carlos Acosta’s artistry defined a generation and paved the way for future generations of dancers. He is an internationally recognized and beloved figure who has influenced the dance community and pop culture monumentally.

“As the curtain falls on 'Carlos Acosta: On Before', audiences are left to reflect on the enduring power of dance to convey the deepest of human emotions. Acosta's performance is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and 'On Before' stands as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of art in navigating the complexities of love, loss, and legacy,” writes Olalekan Adigun of BNN News in his review, “Carlos Acosta Triumphs in 'On Before' at Theatre Royal Plymouth: A Dance Spectacle of Love and Loss.”

Date and Time: April 19-20, 2024, at 7:30 pm
Venue: Sarasota Opera House
Ticket Information: Tickets for Carlos Acosta On Before can be purchased online at the Sarasota Opera House’s website, https://tickets.sarasotaopera.org/6674/6679, or by calling the box office at (941) 328-1300. 

About Carlos Acosta: Born in Havana in 1973, Acosta trained at the National Ballet School of Havana in Cuba. After winning a succession of awards, including the Prix de Lausanne in 1990, he went on to dance professionally with the world’s most prestigious companies, with London’s Royal Ballet becoming his home. Acosta retired from classical ballet in 2016, after 28 years. He established Acosta Danza in 2016 and in January 2020 he became Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Carlos is also the Chairman of the Acosta Dance Foundation founded in 2011, and established the internationally renowned Acosta Dance Centre in 2023.

About The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School: The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS) is a premier destination for Cuban training in the United States. Classes are small and taught by an international faculty following the renowned Cuban method. The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School was founded in 2011 by the Cuban-born husband and wife team of Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernández. Serrano and Hernández trained at the elite National Ballet School of Cuba and performed internationally with Ballet de Camagüey and Ballet de Monterrey. In 1993, they moved to Sarasota, where they continued their professional careers as principal dancers with The Sarasota Ballet until their retirement. The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School was designated a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 2014.

Media Contact: Travis Cornwell T: 941.929.3104 | E: tcornwell@next-mark.com