UNEAC Presents the 2025 Lorna Burdsall Award to Four Outstanding Figures in Cuban Dance

The Lorna Burdsall Award, granted by the Performing Arts Association of the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists (UNEAC), was presented to four leading figures in Cuban culture in recognition of the extraordinary artistic value and legacy of their work. The award ceremony took place in celebration of International Dance Day, observed annually on April 29.

This year’s honorees included Miguel Cabrera, historian of the National Ballet of Cuba; Eva Despaigne, dancer and director of the Obiní Batá Folkloric Group; Isabell Blanco, principal dancer and rehearsal director at Danza Contemporánea de Cuba; and Antonio Pérez Martínez, choreographer and artistic and general director of the Conjunto Folclórico de Oriente.

Cabrera, who is also a dance critic, was recognized for his remarkable work at the Documentation and Historical Research Center of the National Ballet of Cuba, as well as for his teaching at the University of the Arts (ISA).

Eva Despaigne, a graduate of the first cohort of the National School of Dance, served for nearly two decades as a soloist and maître with the National Folkloric Ensemble. Under her direction, Obiní Batá has introduced a new dimension to Cuban folklore—performed entirely by women—breaking gender barriers in percussion and fostering a movement of high artistic value that challenges patriarchal norms.

Isabell Blanco was honored for her iconic performance of the choreography Isadora, a defining role in her career that remained in the repertoire of nearly every national and international stage for 17 years. She is also the creator of creative and participatory dance workshops for all ages and the author of Nanas de la abuela sola. Her work has previously been recognized with the Nicolás Guillén Diploma for Merit and Contributions to the Development of Art and Culture, awarded by UNEAC.

Antonio Pérez Martínez, a founding member of UNEAC in Santiago de Cuba, has brought international attention to folkloric dances of Haitian origin—expressions born from the cultural blending of the two Caribbean islands. His research and artistic contributions are embodied in the work of both the Eastern Folkloric Ensemble and the Kokoyé company, each known for their distinctive choreographic language.

In addition to the Lorna Burdsall Award, the honorees received the 65th Anniversary Distinction from the National Theater of Cuba, an institution deeply enriched by the artistic legacies of these distinguished dance figures. The University of the Arts also paid tribute to Dr. Cabrera for his significant academic contributions to future generations.

The award ceremony, attended by Marta Bonet, President of the Cuban Union of Writers and Artists, honored the legacy of Lorna Burdsall—an American-born dancer, choreographer, and teacher, revered as a foundational figure in the birth and consolidation of modern dance in Cuba.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez