First published: 02 Jul 2009

Ballet superstar Carlos Acosta is to headline Spring Dance 2010 at the London Coliseum, performing with the whole company of Ballet Nacional de Cuba for the first time in the UK.

The collaboration also marks the first time that the internationally renowned company, founded by Cuban ballet legend Alicia Alonso, has taken to the London Coliseum stage.

Ballet Nacional de Cuba, which will perform both mixed bill Magia De La Danza and Swan Lake in London, will be joined by Mark Morris Dance Group and Birmingham Royal Ballet in the annual festival of dance, which runs from 30 March to 24 April.

The revival of Mark Morris Dance Group’s L’Allegro, Il Penseroso Ed Il Moderato will be the first time in a decade that London has seen the landmark work, which encompasses Handel’s music, Milton’s poetry and set design inspired by Blake.

Birmingham Royal Ballet closes Spring Dance 2010 at the London Coliseum with its production of classic fairytale ballet The Sleeping Beauty, set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score.

Prior to his 2010 engagement, Acosta will perform at the London Coliseum later this month in a new version of his Laurence Olivier Award-winning show Carlos Acosta And Guest Artists. The show, which also features selected dancers from The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Rambert Dance Company and Ballet Nacional de Cuba, includes Acosta reprising his scintillating performance of the pas de deux from Spartacus.

MA