The rags-to-riches story of one of the world's
greatest dancers, from his difficult beginnings living
in poverty in the backstreets of Cuba to his
astronomical rise to international stardom. In 1980,
Carlos Acosta was just another Cuban kid of humble
origins, the youngest son in a poor family named after
the planter who had owned his great-great-grandfather.
With few options and an independent spirit, Carlos spent
his days on the streets, dreaming of a career in
football. But even at a young age, Carlos had
extraordinary talent. At nine, he was skipping school to
win break-dancing competitions as the youngest member of
a street-gang for whom dance contests were only a step
away from violence. When Carlos's father enrolled him in
ballet school, he hoped not only to nuture his son's
talent, but also to curb his wildness. Years of
loneliness, conflict and crippling physical effort
followed, but today the Havana street-kid is an
international star. This magical memoir is about more
than Carlos's rise to stardom, however. It is the story
of a childhood where food is scarce but love is
abundant, where the soul of Cuba comes alive to
influence a dancer's art.It is also about a man forced
to leave behind his homeland and loved ones for a life
of self-discipline, displacement and brutal physical
hardship. Carlos Acosta makes dance look effortless, but
the grace, strength and charm have come a cost -- here,
in his own words, is the story of the price he
paid. |
|