The Alicia Alonso International Ballet Festival of Havana opened its doors this Thursday with a refreshing air after the recess imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and as the culmination of the acts for the National Day of Cuban Culture.
The 27th edition of a festival with more than six decades of history will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Cuban National Ballet (BNC), the renowned company -the first of its kind on the Island- founded in 1948 by the legendary dancer Alicia Alonso together with the brothers Fernando and Alberto Alonso.
The opening gala at the National Theater in Havana – the main stage of the festival – included a parade of students from ballet schools and the piece Seventh Symphonyby the German choreographer Uwe Scholz, performed by Cuban dancers Anette Delgado and Dani Hernández.
The director of the BNC, Viengsay Valdés, quoted by Latin Press (PL), in his opening speech, thanked each of the groups and artists from prestigious companies in Spain, Russia, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Uruguay who responded enthusiastically to the call for the event.
The film tribute to the founders, teachers and foreign dancers who illuminated the scene throughout 27 editions and kept alive the essence of the event that welcomed one of the four jewels of Cuban ballet, Aurora Bosch, was also applauded by offering emotional words.
Functions of the classic are included in the poster Giselle, with the performance of leading Cuban figures and guest stars in the leading roles, as well as galas with premieres of works created especially for the occasion. The Spanish National Dance Company will present Carmenstaging by the Swedish Johann Inger, who won the Benois de la Danse award in 2016.
A representation of the Buenos Aires Ballet group, the Compañía Nacional de México, the Cuban groups Acosta Danza and Malpaso, and the group Mi Compañía, under the direction of the Spanish Susana Pous, are also planned.
Among the foreign dancers who attend this event are the Spaniards Ciro Tamayo, Sara Calero, Joaquín de Luz and Ricardo Castellanos; the Brazilian Gustavo Carvalho; Maria Kochetkova and Semyon Chudin, from Russia; the Mexican Lorena García; the Italian Susanna Salvia and Ana Sophia Scheller, from Germany.
Havana Ballet Festival with an important international presence, but without Americans
This festival is considered one of the most traditional and prestigious events of international dance and its organizer, the BNC, declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 2018, is listed as the base of the prestigious Cuban School of Ballet.
Since its first edition in 1960, it has been held without competition and every two years. The event had Alicia Alonso (1920-2019) as its main inspiration and has received great international artists representing the most diverse schools and styles of dance.
With information from Efe and PL.
