• Submitted by: admin
• Arts and Culture
• Dance
• 10 / 22 / 2006

World dance stars and guest troupes from 23 countries to participate at the 20th Havana International Ballet Festival October 28 through November 6, announced Alicia Alonso, the events president.

Addressing a press conference, Alicia specified that among the attending celebs are Argentines Julio Bocca and Maximiliano Guerra, Italian Carla Fracci and Russian Natalia Osipova, as well as figures from Londons Royal Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, the Magdeburg Ballet, the Bolshoi Theater Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.

The great artist pointed out that the 20th festival would be held in an exceptional moment. Well transmit humanity a hope by means of ballet, an art that gathers the best thing of the human being, she remarked.

The event will also dedicate its days to render homage to Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his birth.

Each night, the audience will be able to enjoy one or two new works, created by Cuban and foreign artists.

Under Alicias stamp the stage will see "Mozart divertimento"; "Desnuda luz de amor", specially conceived for Carla Fracci and "Cuadros en una exposición", in alliance with distinguished Cuban plastic figures such as Roberto Fabelo, Alfredo Sosabravo and Zayda del Río.

The audience will have the opportunity to first enjoy such choreographs as "A través de tus ojos", by US James Kelly; "Solitario", by Canadian Jean Grand-Maitre and "El día de la creación" , by Spanish Goyo Montero.

While recalling the trajectory of the festivals, Miguel Cabrera, the Cuban troupes historian, highlighted its status as one of the oldest of the world and its influence in the culture of the island, in which it marked milestones. All that thanks to Alicia Alonso, the Alma Mater of Cuban dance, he added.

Among the programs novelties stand out a hall for classes and rehearsals that will take the name of English dancer Anton Dolin, Alonsos first Albrecht in Giselle.

One of the main attractions of the fest will be the opening of "La voz de la memoria" (The voice of memory), space that aims the safeguard of historical moments of dance and features the participation, among others, of French dancer Jean Babilée, who will hold a dialogue with the audience.

Completing these ballet days are film cycles, photo samples and exhibitions, among them one from the Valencian school of craftspeople, with pieces made in glass, replicas of dancer silhouettes.

Source: CubaSi