Alicia Alonso, world ballet legend, returned to thrill the hundreds who filled the Grand Theater of Havana’s García Lorca Hall. Just as at the beginning of the Festival (October 28), the sublime ballerina accompanied on stage, during the curtain call, the two dozen dancers from eight guest companies and the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC) which she heads, who participated in the closing Gala (November 6).
It was a pinnacle function that fully reflected all that had happened during the ten previous days in three Havana theaters: the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater, the Mella and both the Avellaneda and Covarrubias halls of the National Theater.
Superb is not a gratuitous adjective. Each function, from the classics (Swan Lake and Don Quixote) to the concert programs of the guest companies and Cuban dancers, saw blazing displays of bravura and art, new visions and expressions.
The very special guests included Maria Kochetkova, of the San Francisco Ballet; Joaquín de Luz and Asley Bouder, of the New York City Ballet; principal dancer of The Washington Ballet, Brooklyn Mack; Micaela DePrince, of the Dutch National Ballet; the Dance Americana Company; and the Martha Graham Dance Company.
Throughout the Festival, thousands of ballet lovers, from the island and abroad, enjoyed innovative choreography, including several world and many Cuban premieres.
Some were saved for the closing Gala. Among the world premieres, La danza comienza con tus pasos, dedicated to Alonso by choreographer and Director of the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida, Vladimir Issaev, and interpreted by the prima ballerina of the company, Mary Carmen Catoya, with great delicacy and precision.
Spanish choreographer María Rovira provided the second world premiere. She staged Alas for BNC prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés, who, as is customary, performed brilliantly (and less than two hours after dancing a spectacular Don Quixote in the Avellaneda Hall, where her endless balancés had everyone talking).
The function ended with the third world premiere, Invierno, by young Cuban dancer and choreographer Ely Regina, a piece inspired by the classic The Nutcracker, performed by BNC principal dancers Anette Delgado and Dani Hernandez, always perfect.
For the Festival's final event, the guest performers offered pieces of their repertoire not previously seen in Havana, which were very well received: Daniel Proietto (The Norwegian National Ballet), performed Réplica, with music by David Bowie; Laura Valentín (Balleteatro de Puerto Rico) offered Lo que no fue, music by Astor Pizzola; South Korea’s Universal Ballet presented Claro de luna; Beckanne Sisk and Christopher Ruud (Ballet West) danced Rubies, choreographed by Balanchine and with music by Stravinsky; and Lucía Solari and Javier Torres (Northern Ballet) performed A su tiempo, music by Edvard Grieg.
Thus the Alicia Alonso International Ballet Festival, which brings together so many star dancers, leading companies and those passionate about classical dance, came to a close.
It is now an irrefutable fact: every two years, Havana is filled with dance.
