and set new standards of grace and set new standards of grace and athleticism in theatres around the world. having retired from the classical stage he set up his own cuban dance company, and is also a director of the berlin royal ballet. welcome. let's start in cuba, with your family, ballet. welcome. let's start in cuba, with yourfamily, your upbringing, a happy childhood? very happy, i must say, although in the 80s in cuba, ourfamily was i although in the 80s in cuba, our family was i would say, it was poorer than most families but still there was a big big sense of community, it was a good time for cuba, anybody could participate, do everything that society offers, obviously education was free, there was a lot of community parties that brought the community together. i was very restless as a kid and it was in the 80s where the breakdancing movement started in cuba and everything, so i was into breakdancing, obviously, later on in my family, my mother started to have some problems and then i started to experience some problems with my father being in jail experience some problems with my father being injail and my father being in jail and things my father being injail and things like that, but felt the most part it was a very very good time for cuba.- good time for cuba. and artistic family? - good time for cuba. and artistic family? you - good time for cuba. and artistic family? you are l artistic family? you are youngest of ii artistic family? you are youngest of 11 kids. that's ri . ht, youngest of 11 kids. that's right. i'm _ youngest of 11 kids. that's right. i'm a _ youngest of 11 kids. that's right, i'm a father's - youngest of 11 kids. that's right, i'm a father's side l youngest of 11 kids. that's. right, i'm a father's side he was a truck driver, and before he met my mother he had other affairs and as a result he had 11 kids with different women. i was the youngest of his offspring. was the youngest of his offspring-_ was the youngest of his offs-urin. ., ., i. offspring. how many of those kids were _ offspring. how many of those kids were all _ offspring. how many of those kids were all living _ offspring. how many of those kids were all living together l kids were all living together at any one time?— kids were all living together at any one time? women are livin: at any one time? women are living together, _ at any one time? women are living together, from - at any one time? women are living together, from my - living together, from my father,, from my mother's side there were just the three of us, my two sisters and myself, but we kept in contact with my half—brothers, say, who were in rio most of the time. i ended up rio most of the time. i ended up going to their once i was expeued up going to their once i was expelled and havana. i was expeued expelled and havana. i was expelled at the age of 13. i didn't like ballet very much and i think i was experiencing and i think i was experiencing a lot of, a problem in our household, my father was in jail and at the same time my mother was ill, so basically our elder sister was the one who was cooking at home and everything, so i did not have that kind of influence in that kind of pressure and so i went on i did whatever, so the school thought i was not reliable, because at a point, i even left a show, the show was about to start and i was like playing with my mates all covered in mud, so they said this guy, if we cast him, we don't know he's going to turn up don't know he's going to turn up for the show, and so after too much of that they decided the best thing for me was just to be expelled. the best thing for me was 'ust to be expelledi the best thing for me was 'ust to be expelled. take us back to the street. _ to be expelled. take us back to the street, you _ to be expelled. take us back to the street, you mentioned - the street, you mentioned breakdancing, was that an early cultural passion? fist breakdancing, was that an early cultural passion?— cultural passion? at the time, disco was _ cultural passion? at the time, disco was still _ cultural passion? at the time, disco was still around, - cultural passion? at the time, disco was still around, and - disco was still around, and this movie flashdance and fame, so that was the period of time, so that was the period of time, so i started to get to these parties, and my sister was dancing this style at the time and my sister showed me these moves and i got into the breakdancing scene that was in our area, and breakdancing scene that was in ourarea, and i breakdancing scene that was in our area, and i started to learn those moves and we started too little by little get stronger so we could compete in the zone. compete? yeah, all the — compete in the zone. compete? yeah, all the time, _ compete in the zone. compete? yeah, all the time, trying - compete in the zone. compete? yeah, all the time, trying to - yeah, all the time, trying to go and pick a competition between areas, and that always result in a major fight because nobody wanted to lose,. just mentioned — nobody wanted to lose,. just mentioned that _ nobody wanted to lose,. just mentioned that time, you mentioned that time, you mentioned the barios, those of the districts, but impoverished districts? , ., ., ., districts? everyone had a free education. — districts? everyone had a free education, if _ districts? everyone had a free education, if you _ districts? everyone had a free education, if you wanted - districts? everyone had a free education, if you wanted to i education, if you wanted to become a lawyer, there was a way for you, if you wanted to become a ballet dancer, there was a way for you. money was not an issue, and that was the communist way of getting by, and so it was pretty much tucked away in the outskirts of. are used to take three buses to get to school, that's how far it was, used to wake up at five in the morning, but it was a sense of adventure for me at the time, we didn't think about the future at that time, for me, it was freedom, it was fun. ~ , ., ., ., for me, it was freedom, it was fun. ~ ,, ., ., , ., ~ fun. were you a great break dancer? _ fun. were you a great break dancer? ? _ fun. were you a great break dancer? ? i— fun. were you a great break dancer? ? iwas— fun. were you a great break dancer? ? i was acute - dancer? ? iwas acute breakdancing - dancer? ? iwas acute breakdancing kid - dancer? ? iwas acute breakdancing kid who | dancer? ? i was acute - breakdancing kid who could spin on the back of head, and the potential, very good, but i picked up some awards in breakdancing in my own age group, and so yeah, in the neighbourhood, i became quite well—known as a break dancer, myself and somebody else, who used to be my partner, he was white, i was black and together we did all these numbers. you have nominated _ we did all these numbers. you have nominated your - we did all these numbers. you have nominated your father is a key influence in your life on your work, and what was his job? what did he do? he your work, and what was his job? what did he do? he used to drive a lorry. _ job? what did he do? he used to drive a lorry. a — job? what did he do? he used to drive a lorry, a massive - job? what did he do? he used to drive a lorry, a massive laurie i drive a lorry, a massive laurie that he would transport food from all over the country, and sometimes he would go away for weeks, and sometimes months at a time, he worked very hard and i started to have that sense of the value of working very hard. i had made him a lot because he in the 30s of dubai, he taught himself basically how to read with borrowed books, books that he borrowed from friends in order for he borrowed from friends in orderfor him to grow intellectually and so on, so he was pretty much a self—taught man. was pretty much a self-taught man. �* , ., was pretty much a self-taught man. �* y ., ., was pretty much a self-taught man. �* ., man. but your father was the one who _ man. but your father was the one who introduced - man. but your father was the one who introduced you - man. but your father was the one who introduced you to i one who introduced you to ballet, as i understand it? introduced me to ballet, forced me to do this against my will. what age?— me to do this against my will. whataae? �* , ., what age? nine. because it all has to do with _ what age? nine. because it all has to do with the _ what age? nine. because it all| has to do with the breakdancing crowd, he could see that was going to lead, i wasn't going to petty crime, at nine years old, it's fine, it'sjust fruit, but later on, it could become something major, and so he thought that i needed to just get out on that scene, so he put me on something very rigid, which is ballet. mas he put me on something very rigid, which is ballet.- rigid, which is ballet. was he interested — rigid, which is ballet. was he interested in _ rigid, which is ballet. was he interested in music - rigid, which is ballet. was he interested in music or - rigid, which is ballet. was he interested in music or was i rigid, which is ballet. was he i interested in music or was just interested in music or wasjust seeing a better way of life for you? seeing a better way of life for ou? ~ , . ., , seeing a better way of life for ou? ~ ,. ., seeing a better way of life for ou? ~ ., ., you? music as part of our culture. _ you? music as part of our culture, dances _ you? music as part of our culture, dances part - you? music as part of our culture, dances part of i you? music as part of our. culture, dances part of our culture, dances part of our culture, being a korean island, that we have, really inspired us to dance, so on the street i was dancing, and we communicate with our body, so he liked to sing, he like to dance, but classical music, he said he also liked it, but that's what he said. 50 also liked it, but that's what he said. also liked it, but that's what he said, y., ., he said. so you enrolled in ballet school _ he said. so you enrolled in ballet school at _ he said. so you enrolled in ballet school at the - he said. so you enrolled in ballet school at the age i he said. so you enrolled in ballet school at the age of| ballet school at the age of nine. after the expressive freedom of breakdance, did not feel very restrictive?— feel very restrictive? very, very restrictive, _ feel very restrictive? very, very restrictive, it - feel very restrictive? very, very restrictive, it was i feel very restrictive? very, l very restrictive, it was quite boring, this piano music, it took me quite a while until i saw the national ballet of cuba at age 13, seeing this amazing performance, and that is what i saw, i thought that's very cool saw, i thought that's very cool, i want to do that. from that point on i developed that passion, but i always had talent, i talent lies more to capture movement easily, even if i don't come every day to ballet, even if i skip ballet, i will come back and it was still in my body and i remember the choreography, the tempo, the choreography, the tempo, the musical tempo of the piano and everything, and i think that was my talent at that early age, and i think what eventually saved me. that early age, and i think what eventually saved me. at that moment when _ eventually saved me. at that moment when you _ eventually saved me. at that moment when you saw i eventually saved me. at that | moment when you saw ballet performed on the stage, you were 13 years old, what were you watching the?— were 13 years old, what were you watching the? there was one articular you watching the? there was one particular number— you watching the? there was one particular number called - you watching the? there was one particular number called flower. particular number called flower festival, which is by a danish choreographer, and it's basically doing a lot of beats with arms down, kinda like a scottish dance, you see the way man was built in thejump, that jump man was built in thejump, that jump and elevation, it seems like he was hanging, it was like he was hanging, it was like wow, that is something amazing, and in all it was like sport, this is incredible, and everybody applauded, and i like applause, everybody likes applause, everybody likes applause, so it was something that i thought wow, it would be great if i could do that, and people would applaud me. did he see ou people would applaud me. did he see you dance — people would applaud me. did he see you dance professionally, i see you dance professionally, your father?— see you dance professionally, your father? yes, yes, and that something. _ your father? yes, yes, and that something, because _ your father? yes, yes, and that something, because obviously. your father? yes, yes, and that i something, because obviously he is not around anymore, and that is not around anymore, and that is something that gave me a lot of peace, the fact that he fought and fought and fought for my future, did a lot of hard work to put me straight, even though i hated it at times, and he, i considered he was quite harsh and brutal at times, but then he saw the rewards, when i did my first swan lake and romeo at the opera house, and he could say that my son, right there, he's the prince, and he was trying. for the first time, and this is something that i never saw, —— seen him wear, attired a suit, then i remembered at the time our director we come to him and say we're so proud of you, i'm your kid and everything, and we respect him, and care for him here, and just hearing that for him was the world, and so that's something that i, that really gave me a lot of peace. won't make your next important moment in your life that you have chosen which had a profound effect on your life takes us to 1989, the fall of communism around the world. a very tough moment in human history, for all of us. the level of hardship and hunger, it was amazing, and there were a lot of cats disappearing from my neighbourhood, and dogs, everything, people basically had nothing to eat. there were 20 hours of power cuts in an environment that could go from all the way from 35 to a0 celsius, and there was no any way of ventilators of air—conditioning, nothing, it could be like that for four years. could be like that for four ears. . could be like that for four ears, ., ., , could be like that for four ears. ., , , years. that was because cuba was politically _ years. that was because cuba was politically and _ was politically and economically alone in the world now. with diane moore coming down, everything just collapsed, so people did the best they could to survive. i remember it affected us all. there was this major accidents happening in 199a, where everybody was taking to see in anything, out of desperation. before that we had not witnessed anything like that, it was a big rupture in human society at that point and we're still talking about those times, one of hardest times. as you have already acknowledged, you have already acknowledged, you have already acknowledged, you have communism to thank for the free ballet score, all of those things. did you meet fidel castro? i those things. did you meet fidel castro?— fidel castro? i met him a coule fidel castro? i met him a couple of _ fidel castro? i met him a couple of times, - fidel castro? i met him a couple of times, he i fidel castro? i met him a couple of times, he was i couple of times, he was somebody that turned up to ballet events, and events of all kinds of artistic things, an amazing figure, very tall man, everybody was afraid of him, i was afraid of him, too much power in one man, but my father love the man, because of he lived in the time before. he went and got to meet him as well. i did a sort of musical extravaganza in 2020, 2002 sorry. he turned up in a suit, because normally comes with the green military outfit and then my father on camera met him, and he started to talk about with him and everything, and i remember my father said he was the messiah and all of that, an infidel said to father, you know, you know too much, i'm going to pay you a visit so we can really have a chat over coffee, like a proper chat, and my father did not leave the house for months after that, because i said should be go here? he said no, no, fidel told me he is coming, i better wait, and obviously he never did, but that tells you how much he admired vidal. do you think you would have become one of the greatest dancers if it had not have been for the communist regime? for somebody _ for the communist regime? fr?" somebody like me, very hard. it was very hard to pull that off because, obviously, we did not have the means nor the money to purchase shoes. the shoes last one day and then you had to put, like, a sticky tape and thatis put, like, a sticky tape and that is how you do with one shoe for an entire year. i don't know if, you know, if it was not for that kind of system if i or somebody like me would be able to make it like i did. you are the boss now and you have your own company in cuba and you are the director of the birmingham royal ballet. a tough boss? i birmingham royal ballet. a tough boss?— birmingham royal ballet. a tough boss? i am. but i can only apply _ tough boss? i am. but i can only apply what _ tough boss? i am. but i can only apply what i _ tough boss? i am. but i can only apply what i apply i tough boss? i am. but i can only apply what i apply to l only apply what i apply to myself. i want people to take it seriously. i want great ideas i want to go and do something to the audience that they have not seen and i need everyone to be with me on that. the next big influence on your life and work is travel. when did you first leave cuba? when was the first time you left the country? was the first time you left the count ? , . ., , country? the first country i visited was _ country? the first country i visited was mexico. - country? the first country i visited was mexico. that i country? the first country i i visited was mexico. that must have been 1989 or something and then i went to italy. immediately after two months and while i was in italy i prepared for the loss and competition, a major contest, 137 competitors at the time. and i was the last, number 127. so i went there to a competition and, obviously at that time i did not believe in my talent myself. my teacher lived in it more than i did and decided that i was worthy of representing our school in cuba. and so i went in and it was amazing. the level, there are so many people, you know, and i was rough, coming from cuba with boots and an afro and finding my place in this amazing world away from cuba, you know? so it was intimidating at a time because, obviously, i was the only black dancer there in the competition. i had the most amazing teacher. the most amazing teacher. the most amazing support mechanism around me, people who inspired me and filled me with confidence and that is the difference. there is so much difference. there is so much difference on whether you win or lose because if you have an everyday disconnection with your teacher, so much you dance for her. you just go and clap and so you did very well, and that took a lot of the pressure in that contest, always having her sayjust in that contest, always having her say just dance and in that contest, always having her sayjust dance and enjoy and just say, well, you do not need to win. andjust say, well, you do not need to win.— need to win. just en'oy. first time in europe, i need to win. just en'oy. first time in europe, 16 i need to win. just enjoy. first time in europe, 16 and i need to win. just enjoy. first time in europe, 16 and a i need to win. just enjoy. first i time in europe, 16 and a major competition. what do you remember of that day and what did you dance? in remember of that day and what did you dance?— did you dance? in loss and, donkey hotel _ did you dance? in loss and, donkey hotel which - did you dance? in loss and, donkey hotel which was i did you dance? in loss and, | donkey hotel which was one did you dance? in loss and, i donkey hotel which was one of my most important roles, don quixote. it was a solo in an act that everybody knows. so i did that. with quite a level of complexity for a 16—year—old boy, no. this is a steps at the time were quite new and advanced for a 16—year—old kid and so in 1990 it was still pretty much, i think it was pretty much, i think it was pretty much, i think it was pretty much the level was quite good, i would say. now a 16—year—old boy can do three times more than that, you know? i would probably not stand a chance if i go to compete now the level has just gone so high because that is the way it is. that is the evolution of the spirit —— species. more information, more accessibility, the internet helping you to decide an area of, you can google him and he is there. ~ , ., ., ., is there. when you were on that state is there. when you were on that stage that _ is there. when you were on that stage that day _ is there. when you were on that stage that day and _ is there. when you were on that stage that day and dancing i is there. when you were on that stage that day and dancing did i stage that day and dancing did you know you would win? how much confidence did you have? there were 11 finalists and everybody was really really skilled and the semi—final, i had a little bit of a bumpy ride. i did not, iwas had a little bit of a bumpy ride. i did not, i was not very precise so i thought maybe i will not pass to the finals. that was the one. but then when i saw that i promised then i said, ok, this is it, you know? now i will really go for it. the grand prix, the gold medal, everyone was competing for only one grand prix so to win that and to see my picture in the paper the next day... it changed my life. fist paper the next day. .. it changed my life.- paper the next day... it changed my life. at 18 you “oined changed my life. at 18 you joined the _ changed my life. at 18 you joined the english - changed my life. at 18 you | joined the english national ballet and came to london, the first time in london i presume? yes. the first time in london, obviously. it was raining, you know? a lot of raining the sun disappeared, you know but i was in the city. london. it is a different scale. already lisanne to me was impressive and now we were in england and it was very hard to try to find my own self within a city, where am i here? how will i get by? even tiny things like a bank. the bank. i did not know what that was. then i realised that the money was transferred to a bank and there was such a thing as a bank card that you put in with your code. to me that was alien. so there was a lot to adapt and learn but it was great. i remember in the royal festival hall, meeting diana. i was the principal dancer at 18 already, i was the youngest and she came to see me in the nutcracker. and i did not know who she was. it was quite embarrassing. i remember it was a highlight for me. did ou talk it was a highlight for me. did you talk about dance with her? did you talk she was very respectful, she was beautiful. we spoke a little bit about dance, a little bit about dance, a little bit about cuba and it was very brief. she said welcome because she was the main patron of the company at the time. and obviously he was there when it came to cuba to audition me at the age of 17 and he said i want that boy is and he said i want that boy is a principal dancerfor my a principal dancer for my company. a principal dancerfor my company. we try, you know, sadly he passed away but he was one of the most, you know, influential people. thanks to him, you know, that he gave me that chance. and i think, you know, even having the success in london he said what i started to choreograph and do my own shows. that could be a difference for me so i did. 0nce difference for me so i did. once i did i said how about if i write my story and then after that i say what about if i write fiction and i did so i keep going and getting impossible goals. needless to say i am a workaholic. i have, i don't know, 20 projects on the go at the same time. that is how i like to give myself —— keep myself busy. i want it all from life. i want everything. if you retired from the classical stage a few years ago but you still dance and train every day? i but you still dance and train every day?— but you still dance and train every day? i don't train every da . i every day? i don't train every day- i can't- _ every day? i don't train every day. i can't. as _ every day? i don't train every day. i can't. as a _ every day? i don't train every day. i can't. as a director i i day. i can't. as a director i am on zoom and it is hard. i was have to coach dancers but i do a lot of tablet workouts which keeps me in shape and whenever i can i do contemporary dance which i still want to be on the stage. i want to be, you know, like the rolling stones, that they are still going. i want to be that. . g are still going. i want to be that.- yeah. - are still going. i want to be that.- yeah. i- are still going. i want to be that.- yeah. i love i are still going. i want to be i that.- yeah. i love the that. really? yeah. i love the stale. that. really? yeah. i love the stage- what _ that. really? yeah. i love the stage. what can _ that. really? yeah. i love the stage. what can i _ that. really? yeah. i love the stage. what can i say, - that. really? yeah. i love the stage. what can i say, john. ij stage. what can i say, john. i love the stage. you _ stage. what can i say, john. i love the stage. you will- stage. what can i say, john. i love the stage. you will not i love the stage. you will not retire? at _ love the stage. you will not retire? at some _ love the stage. you will not retire? at some point i i love the stage. you will not| retire? at some point i will, love the stage. you will not i retire? at some point i will, i suppose, but i am going to extend it because it keeps me on my muscles and it keeps me motivated and keeps the connection. in a way it is very unfortunate that by the time you are a1 now ready for a life. but you have a sense that it is gone. musicians can go on to 80 but for us it is like, it is unfair. to 80 but for us it is like, it is unfair-— to 80 but for us it is like, it is unfair. ~ , ., ., . ., is unfair. when you dance now is it difficult? _ is unfair. when you dance now is it difficult? is _ is unfair. when you dance now is it difficult? is it _ is unfair. when you dance now is it difficult? is it painful? i is it difficult? is it painful? it is painful but you can modify because i am no longer romeo. i can say that is painful because i have my cartilage in my killing me, and we work around it. but the artist still there. and you are just trying to find a way to communicate that. carlos, keep anoin. communicate that. carlos, keep going- the _ communicate that. carlos, keep going. the mick _ communicate that. carlos, keep going. the mick jagger - communicate that. carlos, keep going. the mick jagger of i going. the mick jagger of dance. going. the mickjagger of dance. i going. the mick jagger of dance. ~ . going. the mick jagger of dance._ carlos | dance. i like that. carlos acosta. _ dance. i like that. carlos acosta, thank _ dance. i like that. carlos acosta, thank you very i dance. i like that. carlos i acosta, thank you very much dance. i like that. carlos - acosta, thank you very much for sharing your cultural life. for odcast sharing your cultural life. for podcast episodes of this cultural— podcast episodes of this cultural life _ podcast episodes of this cultural life go- podcast episodes of this cultural life go to - podcast episodes of this cultural life go to bbc i podcast episodes of this i cultural life go to bbc sounds or wherever— cultural life go to bbc sounds or wherever you _ cultural life go to bbc sounds or wherever you get - cultural life go to bbc sounds or wherever you get your- or wherever you get your podcasts _ hello. it is shaping up to be yet another unsettled weekend of weather but that doesn't mean it's going to be raining all the time — far from it. while it will be showery and quite breezy, there'll be some drier spells, too. in fact, parts of the south and the east are going to see the driest of the weather, furthest away from the centre of this area of low pressure — that is what will be driving the showers over the weekend. and see all the white lines, the isobars squeezing together? that shows that we are going to have some quite brisk winds, particularly around western coasts. a band of rain through the morning pushing its way northwards and eastwards across scotland. northern england seeing some of that, maybe parts of wales. behind that, sunny spells and showers, some of them heavy and thundery. a few showers breaking out down towards the south—east corner but actually, a decent amount of dry weather to be had here. so, there's confirmation of what will be a breezy, indeed quite windy day around some western coasts. temperatures a little down on where they have been. the warmest weather in eastern england at 2a degrees, more generally around 16—22. and then, as we head through saturday evening, we'll continue to see some showers, particularly across the north and the west of the uk. some areas of cloud, some clear spells, too, and another relatively warm night — 12—15 degrees. so, for sunday, our area of low pressure just continues to swirl, centred close to the north—west of scotland, so that will be driving the showers. this frontal system here to the south—west, that'll be running in later in the day. so, some spells of sunshine to be had but also some showers, maybe some longer spells of rain at times for northern ireland and western parts of scotland. and then, late in the day, some cloud and perhaps some rain into the far south—west of england, maybe the far south—west of wales. temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees. breezy again — perhaps not quite as windy as on saturday. now, through the coming week, low pressure will be with us initially but then, it looks like high pressure will build for a time and, actually, as that high shifts eastwards, it may be that we start to pick up a feed of slightly warmer air from the near continent. the big question mark is about how quickly this area of low pressure then swirls in from the west to turn things unsettled once again. but signs are that as we head through the coming week, there will at least be some drier and warmer weather on the way for many of us. did, but that tells you how much he admired vidal. live from washington, this is bbc news. new pictures reveal the utter devistation from wildfires in hawaii as the death toll rises. the usjustice department names a special prosecutor in the hunter biden inquiry. plus, a well—known mountaineer denies accusations her team climbed over an injured guide during a bid to break a world record. hello i'm carl nasman, thanks forjoining us. the number of people killed by wildfires on the hawaiian island of maui has risen to at least 67. that makes it officially the us state's deadliest ever natural disaster. this is new drone footage from the all—but—destroyed town of la haina. as you can see, structures completely levelled, trees torn of their branches, the devastation reaching all the way to the shoreline. the scene is almost lifeless, and yet you can also make out the natural splendor of hawaii, with blue waters, rolling hills and clear skies. the natural beauty only making the sheer desctruction that much more stark.