Following an exceptional career including many years with the Royal Ballet, international dance icon Carlos Acosta has launched a company of his own, Acosta Danza. 

Here he talks about his aims and the ethos of the new company, which is heading to Brighton Dome in October.

'I wanted to create a company that doesn't quite look like any other company in the nation, that offers something more alternative...Acosta Danza, I would like people to decribe it as 21st century diversity, embracing all art forms...Hip hop - wonderful! Ballet - wonderful! Flamenco - wonderful! Why not? Why do we have to be divided?'

Acosta Danza is at Brighton Dome on 26 and 27 Oct.