The 27th edition of International Ballet Festival of Havana closes its curtains this Sunday after establishing itself again as a platform for the multiplicity of dance styles.
At the appointment the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC)host company and Cultural Heritage of the Nation, showed off its luxury repertoire assumed by young figures highly committed to the celebration for its first 75 years of creation, according to a report by the Prensa Latina (PL) agency.
According to the media, one of the most exciting moments of this edition was the return to the scene of the current director and leading figure of the BNC, Viengsay Valdes“who was reincarnated in that leading character of the romantic era that is Giselle to the applause of her audience.”
Viengsay Valdés returned to the stage with “Giselle” at the Havana Ballet Festival
The winner of the gold medal in Vignale Danza, Italy (1993,) reaffirmed her proven technique after a pause in her artistic career marked by motherhood and 25 years after her first interpretation of that work, highlights the publication.
«Valdés, heir to the strength and tenacity bequeathed by the prima ballerina absolute and founder of the BNC, Alicia Alonsoalso paid tribute to her on the 80th anniversary of her debut in the role of the wili villager”, notes PL.
The Festival brought together international stars such as Joaquín de Luz, who arrived in the Cuban capital as a dancer and director of the Spanish National Dance Company, to exhibit his highly acclaimed contemporary version of Carmen.
During his visit to the Island, the Spanish artist presented the documentary until dawn about the creative processes of his company and will receive the international honorary Josefina Méndez award, granted by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac), adds the information.
The agency also highlights premieres by the Buenos Aires Ballet of Argentina, the National Ballet of Sodre in Uruguay, as well as national groups such as Acosta DanceMalpaso and My Company.
The event also led to the debut before the Cuban public of the Italians Roberto Bolle, Jacopo Tisi and Nicoletta Manni (Teatro alla Scala in Milan) and Susana Salvi (Rome Opera Ballet).
Followers of this art were also able to enjoy the Russians Maria Kochetkova (American Ballet Theater) and Seymon Chudin (Bolshoi Ballet), as well as Melissa Hamilton (Royal London Ballet).
Another of the successes of the Festival has been bringing together on Cuban soil dancers from the island who are successful on foreign circuits such as Catherine Zuaznábar (Béjart Ballet Laussane) or Yolanda Correa (Berlin Opera Ballet) and the return of Gian Carlos Pérez and Erick Rodríguez, stars of the Washington Ballet and the National Company of Mexico, respectively.
In addition, their performances transcended the capital’s stages with presentations in venues such as the Sauto Theater of Matanzas, the recently inaugurated José Jacinto Milanés Theater, in Pinar del Río, and the Tomás Terry theater in the central territory of Cienfuegos.
PL recalls that from 1960 to date, the Havana International Ballet Festival has not only promoted the art of movement from a continental perspective, but also consolidates its journey as one of the most inclusive events in Cuban culture.
