Performances by the National Ballet of Cuba at the Milanés Theatre in Pinar del Río (+Photos)

The National Ballet of Cuba (BNC, known by its Spanish acronym), under the direction of prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés, will perform an attractive programme of works from its repertoire at the Milanés Theatre in Pinar del Río on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd December.

One of the masterpieces of Cuban and Latin American choreography is Tarde en la siesta. It was created as a tribute to Maestro Ernesto Lecuona. The show was choreographed by Alberto Méndez, with music by Ernesto Lecuona. The set and costumes were designed by Salvador Fernández, according to Mauricio Abreu, director of press and public relations for the prestigious National Cultural Heritage Company.

Another emblematic work of the BNC is Canto vital by Azari Plisetski, music by Gustav Mahler, costumes by Salvador Fernández, a male «pas de quatre» that explores the many expressions of male dance. This ballet, together with Tarde en la siesta, coincides with this year’s celebration of its premiere five decades ago.

It also includes the pieces Muto, choreographed by Alberto Méndez with music by Edvard Grieg, and Alfonsina, choreographed by Gustavo Herrera with music by Julio Bueno and Fernando Condon, based on the play Alfonsina y el mar by Ariel Ramírez, with sets by Salvador Fernández. This ballet is a tribute to the Argentinean poetess Alfonsina Storni (1892-1938), who was famous for her amorous lyricism and her profound feminine sensibility.

This programme includes one of the most famous solos in dance history: The Death of the Swan, choreography by Mikhail Fokine and music by Camille Saint-Saëns; together with scenes from the beloved ballet The Nutcracker, choreography by Alicia Alonso, based on the original by Lev Ivanov; music by Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky; with libretto based on the original by Marius Petipa, based on the free version by Alexandre Dumas of the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann; designs by Guido Fiorato.

The main roles will be played by Viengsay Valdés, Anette Delgado, Sadaise Arencibia, Grettel Morejón, Dani Hernández, María Luisa Márquez, Ányelo Montero, supported by soloists and the BNC corps de ballet.

As part of these performances, the exhibition ‘Homenaje’ will be inaugurated in the temporary hall of the Centre for Strategic Management of Local Development (GEDEL), with works by several photographers from different generations who have worked with the company over the last 75 years.

Photographs by Maykel Espinosa, taken during the rehearsal at the company’s headquarters.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez