Ballet Nacional de Cuba
National Ballet of Cuba (Ballet Nacional de Cuba), is managed by Cuban prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso and is one of the top ballet companies in the world. The artistic standards and technical severity of the dancers and the wide diversity in the aesthetic conception of the choreographers in combining joyful Cuban sensuality with superb classical Russian, French and English ballets, have granted this ensemble a secure place among international dance institutions. Today occupies a prominent place in the contemporary Hispanic-American culture. The company was founded in 1948, with Alicia Alonso as the main founder and first figure. In 1950 the National School of Ballet Alicia Alonso was founded, annexed to the professional company.【History】
Ballet Nacional de Cuba performing in the Great Theater of HavanaThe company was founded by Alicia Alonso,her husband Fernando and Fernando's brother Alberto on October 28, 1948 as Alicia Alonso Ballet Company. Two years later, a school was established to create a strong artistic vision and promote the talents of young Cuban dancers. Alicia Alonso set a tradition of Romantic and Classical excellence while encouraging the development of new choreography.
Although the school was thriving artistically, it struggled financially. When Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959, he had a commitment to level the social structure and to make the arts available to everyone. “The old government was out and the new hope was coming for the arts and the ballet in Cuba,” recalled Margarita Saá, former BNC ballerina. The coming of the Revolution, marked the beginning of a new stage for the Cuban ballet, Castro gave $200,000 to Alonso, a supporter of the revolution. With state funding, suddenly the ballet became important to the country and its identity. That year, as a part of a new cultural program, the company was reorganized and it took the name of National Ballet of Cuba that has had a vertiginous development from that moment on, enriching its repertory and promoting the development of new dancers, choreographers, professors and creators. Combined with other spheres related to dance, such as set design,costumes, lighting and sound. Significant improvements in traditional repertory, unique and diverse choreographic advances, have established works that are recognized routinely as visionary achievements in the contemporary choreography. Following the romantic and classical tradition, The BNC has a rich history of stimulating the creative talent of its choreographers who under Ms.Alonso's guidance have improved both contemporary and classical ballet. The BNC has choreographed and preformed completely new versions of classics such as Giselle, The Swan Lake or Coppélia.These masterpieces are sometimes accompanied with works coming from the renovating movement of Sergei Diaghilev Russian Ballets Petrushka, or Afternoon of a Faun; and ballets created by Cuba's national choreographers.
Government funding for the Ballet Nacional continues to this day. These funds allow the Ballet to scour the country and hand pick gifted students. Cuba funds a country-wide teaching organization called the National School of Ballet, directed by Ramona Saá. There is no shortage of eager young hopefuls on this island.Placement in the ballet program can lead to respectable salaries, government subsidies, the opportunity to travel internationally and recognition as a Cuban cultural asset.
Cuban ballet dancers practicing in the Great Theater of Havana.The Ballet Nacional de Cuba hosts the bi-annual International Ballet Festival of Havana, which for the past 41 years has featured dance companies from around the world. Besides its intense activity in Cuba, the National Ballet of Cuba develops a program of international tours. These tours take the BNC to stages of different countries within Europe, Asia and America annually. Important awards,such as the Grand Prix of the Ville of Paris and the Order Félix Varela, of the Republic of Cuba, joined with frequent acclamation of specialized critics. Outstanding members of the company have consistently received distinctions and awards in competitions and international festivals. The success is know as the reflection of its founder Alicia Alonso [[c The company has created more than 600 works and performed in more than 60 countries worldwide. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary Fidel Castro awarded the ballet and Alicia Alonso its highest civil decoration, the Lazaro Pena Order.
【The Ballet Today】
Following the classical Soviet system, the National Ballet School turns out 40 professionals a year. Through the Ballet Nacional and its network of schools, Alicia and Fernando Alonso have created a uniquely Cuban style of dance. Earning worldwide acclaim, the Ballet has performed in 58 countries and received hundreds of international awards. Additionally, Cuban-trained dancers are now marquee names in top ballet companies throughout the world.
