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