Ballet Nacional de Cuba to Commemorate Milestones with Three Performances of the Nutcracker

The Ballet Nacional de Cuba, under the artistic direction of Viengsay Valdés, will stage three performances of the classic The Nutcracker on December 28 and 29, and January 1 at the Sala Avellaneda of the Teatro Nacional de Cuba.

The first performance, on Saturday, December 28, at 8:30 p.m., will honor the 120th anniversary of the birth of renowned Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier. On Sunday, December 29, at 5:00 p.m., the company will pay tribute to the 110th anniversary of the birth of Fernando Alonso, a co-founder of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and the Cuban ballet school, alongside his brother Alberto and the legendary prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso. The January 1 performance, also at 5:00 p.m., will feature the traditional gala celebrating the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution’s triumph.

The Nutcracker, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, will be presented in Alicia Alonso’s version of Lev Ivanov’s original choreography. The production features designs by Guido Fiorato and lighting by Fabio Barettin.

The role of the Sugar Plum Fairy will be performed by prima ballerina Grettel Morejón on December 28 and January 1, and by Gabriela Druyet on December 29. They will be partnered by Dani Hernández on December 28, Ányelo Montero on December 29, and Patricio Revé on January 1, in the role of the Cavalier.

Ernesto Díaz will portray Drosselmeyer on December 28 and January 1, while Dani Hernández will take on the role on December 29. Yankiel Vázquez will perform as the Nutcracker, and the role of Clara will alternate between Paloma Blanco, Carolina Estrada, and Carolina Fonseca.

The Snow Scene will feature Nadila Estrada and Luis Fernández on December 28, Nadila Estrada and Alejandro Alderete on December 29, and Gabriela Druyet and Bertho Rivero on January 1.

Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 1:00 p.m. on Sunday and Wednesday, up to 30 minutes after the performance begins.

Source: Ballet Nacional de Cuba

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez