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A unique mix of contemporary dance, classical ballet and a live five-piece Cuban band bouncing out hot Afro-Cuban beats was a rare and exhilarating delight.Ìý

The Cuban national contemporary dance company Danza Contemporánea made their UK debut with K20s, where two male dancers artfully portray a man and his suitcase, and the chaos and struggle in how we function day to day.

Hearts leapt at the classical Le Corsaire (The Pirate) when Acosta flew across the stage executing technical leaps and turns and showing us exactly why he is said to be the world’s greatest male ballet dancer in a stunning pas de deux with Cuban prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés.

When the adulation subsided, new production Le Ecuación (Equation) glowed centre stage - a transfixing display of four dancers weaving an equation about truth within a small illuminated square. The dancers’ enigmatic strong lines and fluid moves, merging and breaking apart fused brilliantly into a profound sum.

Tocororo Suite made a perfect grand finale with a full cast and band spilling onto stage with the vivid colour, personality and spirit of Latin America. Telling the story of his humble beginnings in Havana and rise to fame, it marked Acosta’s début as a choreographer and shone with the joy he discovered in dance.

And to think the once wild-child and champion break-dancer wanted to play football. We can thank his father for sending him to dance class to learn discipline, as the awe inspiring talent that is Carlos Acosta is an absolute pleasure to behold.