Carlos Acosta

Next one in the list of the most famous male ballet dancers is Carlos Acosta. Carlos Yunior Acosta Quesada is a Cuban ballet dancer born in 1973 in Havana. He was the youngest of 11 children, and his father chose to put him in a state-funded dance studio to keep him out of trouble. This is where he developed his interest in ballet. At the age of eight, he was invited to join the English National Ballet as their youngest major dancer, and he quickly rose through the ranks, performing all of the leading parts.

Throughout his ballet career, Carlos created numerous award-winning productions, including 'Tocororo' and 'Carlos Acosta and Friends of the Royal Ballet'. He also choreographed the Royal Ballet productions of Don Quixote and Carmen, as well as the most recent West End production of Guys and Dolls. Carlos' outstanding contribution to dance continues to this day, and he was granted a CBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List in 2014.

His athleticism, sheer love of dancing, and incredible ability to portray emotion inspired a generation of dancers all around the world. His moving story and the challenges he has faced speak for itself. He has been compared to Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev, and is widely considered to be the best male dancer of his generation. Carlos Acosta retired from classical dancing in 2016 after 28 years of performing in roles ranging from Spartacus to Romeo.

Born: 1973
Nationality: Cuban