Interview, Fireside Chat, Conference Presentation
Carlos Acosta, Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet
- Carlos Acosta expects to return to the Sadler's Wells stage in November with Alessandra Ferry for the Birmingham Royal Ballet's "Curated by Carlos" program.
- The organization anticipates the government's free education scheme will continue to facilitate the discovery of Cuban artists in rural areas for future generations.
- Current industry trends are expected to prioritize diversity, creating opportunities for leadership to expand artistic range and inclusion.
- Plans to attract new audiences include school outreach initiatives and repertory blending classical dance with contemporary elements, such as "Radio and Juliet" set to Radiohead music.
- Strategic reinvention is required to establish a common ground for future generations despite the art form's origins in the 1500s.
- Community alliances are being formed to secure necessary resources for these initiatives.
- A long-term objective exists to elevate the Birmingham Royal Ballet to international recognition and the status of the world's best company.
- The company aims to raise artistic standards by engaging top choreographers, introducing new idioms, and expanding the repertory.
- Concerns exist that pandemic-related uncertainty and anxiety may cause young professional dancers, including those from New Zealand, to abandon their careers.
- Young children risk deteriorating physical conditioning due to restrictions on proper training and auditioning during the pandemic.
- Rapid online adaptation, including Zoom operations, was implemented to maintain core membership engagement.
- Three contingency plans (A, B, and C) have been developed for venue options such as tennis courts, outdoor spaces, or libraries due to uncertainty regarding future openings.
- There is a general expectation that the current situation will trend positively and improve from the current point forward.
- The speaker acknowledges a personal struggle to maintain enthusiasm amidst the ongoing situation.