Carlos Acosta: celebrating 30 years in Dance

Carlos Acosta, in his final curtain call at the Royal Opera House

Acosta rehearsing Don Quixote at The Royal Ballet (2013)

Carlos Acosta in Bruce's Rooster at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year

Carlos Acosta rehearses Carmen with dancers of Acosta Danza

Carlos Acosta leads Acosta Danza in class

Carlos Acosta with Dame Darcey Bussell at the RAD Queen Elizabeth II coronation award

By Graham Watts, 06 December 2018

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“I was very insecure but applause made me realise I could do something about my life through ballet”

Bachtrack, 1st August

The Royal Ballet School is introducing substantial changes as to how it trains its younger students at entry level, with effect from September 2026.

From Paris to Weimar with Anne Sofie von Otter

Kevin W Ng, 17th April

Ahead of an appearance at London’s Cadogan Hall, the Swedish mezzo-soprano talks about her love for French and German song, and combining intimate performances with opera singing on a much larger scale.

Cultural activism: Leticia Moreno in Singapore

Frank Kuznik, 14th April

The Spanish violinist makes her Sinagpore debut in May performing Szymanowski. She talks about taking repertoire to new places, and being an advocate for unusual Spanish music.

From Salzburg, with love: Hans Graf bids farewell to Singapore

Peter Quantrill, 7th April

The Austrian conductor reflects on his seven year tenure with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, work and life, returning to old scores, and why a musical ensemble is like a giant human body.

Elim Chan: from Sorcerer’s Apprentice to Proms Queen

Mark Pullinger, 7th April

The Hong Kong-born conductor talks about her entry into music, her love of big Russian repertoire, her “Cinderella moment” winning the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition and her ambition to “go against the grind”.

Training opera’s next generation at the RCM

Jessica Duchen, 6th April

The Royal College of Music offers an enviable nurturing ground for the next generation of operatic talent. Audrey Hyland, head of the Vocal and Opera faculty, talks about what makes the department special.

Graham Watts

Graham Watts is a freelance dance writer and critic writing regularly for Dancing Times, Dance Europe, Danza Europa, and many more publications. He regularly writes features for Sadler’s Wells, London Coliseum and La Scala. Chairman of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in the United Kingdom and of the UK National Dance Awards he has interviewed many of the greatest names in dance including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Boris Eifman, Alexei Ratmansky, Andris Liepa, Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley and Dame Gillian Lynne. When not involved in dance Graham is a keen fencer, and has captained the British Sabre team.