Ballet star Carlos Acosta receives honorary degree

Acclaimed Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta has received an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham.

The accolade, which is the highest honour awarded by the university, was for the retired dancer's "outstanding" contribution to the city and for positioning it as a "globally renowned centre for arts and culture".

During his five years as director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, he has celebrated the city's cultural heritage through works such as On Your Marks for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Black Sabbath - The Ballet.

Acosta said to be recognised "by this prestigious institution, in a city that has become so dear to me, is an immense privilege".

He added: "I feel strongly that this honour from the university in its 125th year also pays tribute to the company I direct, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and to the world-class creative industries of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.

"We serve with pride and represent to the world this extraordinary second city of the UK."

The university marked its anniversary by co-hosting a reception with the Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC ahead of a performance of the heavy metal ballet.

The retired ballet dancer was also praised for his commitment to supporting talent through his Acosta Dance Foundation and Acosta Danza Academy in Havana, Cuba, which provides free education for young dancers and choreographers.

Vice-chancellor and principal, professor Adam Tickell said Acosta was "one of the most influential and innovative figures in the arts today".

"Through his work and achievements, Carlos Acosta embodies our university's values of ambition, innovation and collaboration, and we're incredibly proud to award him an honorary degree."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.