The first appearance of Britain’s Royal Ballet in Cuba in July, 2009 was the “event of a lifetime” for star dancer Carlos Acosta and a rare treat for Cuban ballet fans. Acosta, a former student of Cuban ballet legend Alicia Alonso, performed in three of five performances of Britain’s Royal Ballet in his native home of Cuba. Acosta is considered one of the world’s best currently performing ballet dancers.
Tickets for Britain’s Royal Ballet performances in Cuba sold out within just a few hours, but free viewing screens were provided for the public to watch the shows outside. The show featured 96 dancers and several dozen musicians for a five night series of performances. The Royal Ballet’s appearance in Cuba was hailed by dancer Carlos Acosta in a statement to the press as “a moment that all Cubans should treasure… it’s the most important event in 50 years.”
The Wednesday night performance of Britain’s Royal Ballet in Cuba, featuring Acosta, was dedicated in tribute to Cuban ballet legend Alicia Alonso. Alonso was a Cuban-born internationally famous prima ballerina who danced with several prominent companies during her career.
After a long and notable career, Alonso returned to Cuba after the 1959 revolution and founded the Cuban National Ballet. At 88 years-old, Alonso still manages the ballet despite being nearly blind. Britain’s Royal Ballet performed “Giselle,” Alonso’s signature dance, to pay tribute to her. The Royal Ballet also performed “Chroma,” “A Month in the Country,” and “Manon.”
Tickets to Britain’s Royal Ballet performances in Cuba sold for under 20 Cuban pesos (or 91 US cents) each due to government subsidies of the arts, allowing the general public the ability to see a cultural phenomenon at an affordable price. Britain’s Royal Ballet performed three nights at the Gran Teatro in Central Havana before switching to the Karl Marx Teatro for its final two performances.
Royal Ballet dancer Carlos Acosta hopes that the once-in-a-lifetime performance series will inspire Cubans to free their minds and aim high with their expectations and dreams. Prior to one of the Royal Ballet’s rehearsals in Cuba, Acosta said the visit was “an event that’s a bridge between two cultures.” Carlos has danced with the English National Ballet and the National Ballet of Cuba. He has been with Britain’s Royal Ballet since 1998.
The last major, non-native ballet company to perform in Cuba was the Bolshoi, nearly 30 years ago.