| Carlos Acosta, born in 1973 is a Cuban | | | | Carlos was the youngest son in a poor family |
| dancer. He began studying dance when he was | | | | that was named after the planter who owned |
| 10 at the National Ballet School of Cuba in | | | | his great great grandfather at one point of |
| Havana. Mr. Acosta has been a recipient of | | | | time. This youngest kid in the family was |
| various national and international dance | | | | endowed with a free and independent spirit, |
| awards, including the Spanish Vegnale Dance | | | | but the monetary and other constraints always |
| Prix in Italy, gold medal at the Prix de | | | | acted as impediments in his flight. Just like |
| Lausanne, grand prix in the Third Juvenile | | | | all other young kids, he too dreamt of a |
| Competition of Dance, the grand prix and the | | | | career in football. But fate obviously had |
| gold medal at the Fourth Annual Competition | | | | other plans for him. He was the youngest |
| of Ballet in Paris. | | | | members of a street gang and would bunk |
| | | | school to win street break dance |
| Following the tradition of successful and | | | | competitions. |
| artistic men the world over, Acosta too went | | | | |
| on to write an autobiography with the name of | | | | To curb the violent streak in his son and to |
| No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer's Story. The | | | | nurture his talent, Carlos' father got him |
| storyline of the book is immensely | | | | enrolled in a ballet school. After undergoing |
| inspirational. A rags to riches story of one | | | | years of loneliness, suffering, conflict and |
| of the world's best male dancers. It begins | | | | even physical crippling effort, Carlos Acosta |
| by showcasing his poverty-ridden childhood in | | | | today is an international star of repute. |
| the backstreets of his hometown, Cuba. The | | | | From being an urchin on the Cuban streets to |
| readers also get to witness his astronomical | | | | being an uncrowned prince of this art form, |
| rise from a humble background to being an | | | | this highly inspiring and endearing story is |
| international dancing star. | | | | a must read. |
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