Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage presents Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Curated by Carlos – a thrilling triple bill featuring a new duet created especially for Carlos Acosta and Alessandra Ferri. The programme includes Daniela Cardim’s abstract ballet Imminent; a love letter to the city of Birmingham, City of a Thousand Trades; and Goyo Montero’s powerful ensemble piece Chacona.

In a world exclusive filmed at Sadler’s Wells, Carlos Acosta and guest artist Alessandra Ferri perform a new pas de deux as part of Chacona. This powerful ensemble piece for 16 dancers was created by Spanish choreographer Goyo Montero (Nuremberg Ballet / Acosta Danza) and is set to music by J.S. Bach, played on stage by violin, guitar and piano.

Brazilian/British choreographer Daniela Cardim’s Imminent has been created with a team of international talent, including renowned composer Paul Englishby. Imminent explores the sensation of knowing that something isn’t right, that something inside is pulling at us, and it’s telling us we need to make change. Though the world around us seems to be flowing harmoniously, sometimes we need to listen to our instincts, resist the status quo and find the strength to see opportunities in paths unknown, embracing both the fear and the hope as we do so.

City of a Thousand Trades is a love letter to Birmingham, commissioned by Carlos Acosta to celebrate the city’s richly diverse heritage and melting pot of cultures. The ballet is brought to stage by Havana-born choreographer Miguel Altunaga, and dramaturg and co-Director Madeleine Kludje from Birmingham Repertory Theatre, with music by Mathias Coppens, inspired by the city’s soundscape.

Live music performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s acclaimed orchestra, the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Image description: Two dancers stand balanced in a moment of intimacy. Alessandra Ferri balances on point, her other leg folded up towards her chest, toe pointed inwards. She cradles the head of Carlos Acosta with one hand, the other wrapped around his shoulder. He stands with feet wide, supporting Ferri at her waist and around her lifted knee. Both wear black unitards and the background is a mottled red.

City of a Thousand Trades and Imminent are Ballet Now commissions, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s programme which seeks to find exciting, diverse, international creative talent.