- Title: Ballet legend Alicia Alonso opens Havana International Ballet Festival
- Date: 28th October 2016
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (OCTOBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF CUBAN BALLET GREAT ALICIA ALONSO STICKING POSTAGE STAMP CLOSE OF POSTAGE VARIOUS OF ALONSO SIGNING STAMP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN BALLET GREAT, ALICIA ALONSO, SAYING: "This is something very important for me in my life, it is a dream of mine which is coming true. Now I can see a life goal being realized." NEWS CONFERENCE FOR BALLET FESTIVAL IN PROGRESS ALONSO'S FACE ON POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY, JANET EILBER, SAYING: "I think it's very important to us. Martha Graham is such an iconic representative around the world of American culture. So to be the first modern dance company invited to Alicia Alonso's festival is very important to us and continues part of our history that started many, many years ago." NATIONAL BALLET OF CUBA SIGN EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL BALLET OF CUBA
- Embargoed: 12th November 2016 18:41
- Keywords: Alicia Alonso ballet Cuban National Ballet Martha Graham
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Theatre
- Reuters ID: LVA00155X7VIB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Cuban ballet great, Alicia Alonso, 94, opened on Friday (October 28) the 25th Havana International Ballet Festival, which will showcase dance companies from 16 countries.
For the first time in the festival's history, Cuba's most renowned prima ballerina, who fronted the stage in the 1940s and whose name was given to the capital's national theatre, will stand as president of the event.
"This is something very important for me in my life, it is a dream of mine which is coming true. Now I can see a life goal being realized," Alonso said as the final preparations were put in place before the festival opens with a piece of her own choreography on Friday night.
The Martha Graham company, founded in 1926 in New York and considered one of the world's top modern dance groups, will also perform during the festival.
The company's artistic director was grateful to participate in Alonso's big moment.
"I think it's very important to us. Martha Graham is such an iconic representative around the world of American culture. So to be the first modern dance company invited to Alicia Alonso's festival is very important to us and continues part of our history that started many, many years ago," said Janet Eilber, the company's artistic director.
Cuban ballet has fused the best from the Russians, French, Italians, English and Americans with Latino flair and Afro-Cuban sensuality, and exported some top international names in the art, such as London's Royal Ballet principal, Carlos Acosta. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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