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The Cuban National Ballet (Spanish: Ballet National de Cuba) is an internationally renowned classical ballet company based at the Great Theatre of Havana in Havana, Cuba. Founded by the Cuban Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Alicia Alonso in 1948, it has become recognised as one of the world's leading ballet companies. The official school of the company is the Cuban National Ballet School.
[edit] History The company was founded by Alicia Alonso, her husband Fernando and Fernando's brother Alberto on October 28, 1948 as Alicia Alonso Ballet Company. Two years later, a school was established to create a strong artistic vision and promote the talents of young Cuban dancers. Alicia Alonso set a tradition of Romantic and Classical excellence while encouraging the development of new choreography. Although the school was thriving artistically, it struggled financially. When Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959, he had a commitment to level the social structure and to make the arts available to everyone. “The old government was out and the new hope was coming for the arts and the ballet in Cuba,” recalled Margarita Saá, former BNC ballerina. The coming of the Revolution, marked the beginning of a new stage for the Cuban ballet, Castro gave $200,000 to Alonso, a supporter of the revolution. With state funding, suddenly the ballet became important to the country and its identity. That year, as a part of a new cultural program, the company was reorganized and it took the name of National Ballet of Cuba that has had a vertiginous development from that moment on, enriching its repertory and promoting the development of new dancers, choreographers, professors and creators. Combined with other spheres related to dance, such as set design, costumes, lighting and sound. Significant improvements in traditional repertory, unique and diverse choreographic advances, have established works that are recognized routinely as visionary achievements in the contemporary choreography. Following the romantic and classical tradition, The BNC has a rich history of stimulating the creative talent of its choreographers who under Ms. Alonso's guidance have improved both contemporary and classical ballet. The BNC has choreographed and performed completely new versions of classics such as Giselle, The Swan Lake or Coppélia.These masterpieces are sometimes accompanied with works coming from the renovating movement of Sergei Diaghilev Russian Ballets Petrushka, or Afternoon of a Faun; and ballets created by Cuba's national choreographers. Government funding for the Ballet Nacional continues to this day. These funds allow the Ballet to scour the country and hand pick gifted students. Cuba funds a country-wide teaching organization called the National School of Ballet, directed by Ramona Saá. There is no shortage of eager young hopefuls on this island. Placement in the ballet program can lead to respectable salaries, government subsidies, the opportunity to travel internationally and recognition as a Cuban cultural asset.  The Ballet Nacional de Cuba hosts the bi-annual International Ballet Festival of Havana, which for the past 41 years has featured dance companies from around the world. Besides its intense activity in Cuba, the National Ballet of Cuba develops a program of international tours. These tours take the BNC to stages of different countries within Europe, Asia and America annually. Important awards, such as the Grand Prix of the Ville of Paris and the Order Félix Varela, of the Republic of Cuba, joined with frequent acclamation of specialized critics. Outstanding members of the company have consistently received distinctions and awards in competitions and international festivals. The success is know as the reflection of its founder Alicia Alonso. The company has created more than 600 works and performed in more than 60 countries worldwide. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary Fidel Castro awarded the ballet and Alicia Alonso its highest civil decoration, the Lazaro Pena Order. The opportunity to join foreign ballet companies is a big incentive for numbers of the National Ballet of Cuba, where a top dancer's pay is about $50 a month. Today several American and British companies have former dancers from the National Ballet dance school among their principal dancers as Lorna Feijoo and her husband Nelson Madrigal who perform with the Boston Ballet, Lorna's sister is with the San Francisco Ballet, in the San Francisco Ballet where Cuban Jorge Esquivel is one of the ballet masters. In 2004 Jose Manuel Carreno was the first Cuban to win the Dance Magazine award for contributions to ballet since the prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso did in 1958. [edit] The Ballet TodayFollowing the classical Soviet system, the National Ballet School turns out 40 professionals a year. Through the Ballet Nacional and its network of schools, Alicia and Fernando Alonso have created a uniquely Cuban style of dance. Earning worldwide acclaim, the Ballet has performed in 58 countries and received hundreds of international awards. Additionally, Cuban-trained dancers are now marquee names in top ballet companies throughout the world. At age 88 and nearly blind, Alicia Alonso is still at the helm of the Ballet Nacional. And despite her age, she doesn’t show signs of leaving, although there have been repeated requests for new leadership. [edit] Dance departmentBesides Cuba's National Ballet's intensive work, it develops important educational activity, targeting its dancers' artistic-technical training or improvement. The International Dance Program was created in March 1999. Directed by Alicia Alonso, its main objective is to teach students and visiting professors the methodology of the renowned Cuban School of Ballet as well as various elements that make up the uniquely Cuban form of ballet. The courses of the International Dance Program constitute accreditation, and a "hands on" experience. Participation includes prestigious professors and maîtres of the National Ballet of Cuba and other specialists appointed by its management. Through the BNC's International Dance Program, knowledge is manifested through special Cuban BNC techniques, idiosyncrasies, aesthetics and characteristics of Latin American culture. The Cuban dance form is an expression of the Ibero-America,Caribbean roots,and classical styles that are sustained or enhanced by common or similar ethnic and cultural antecedents. The International Dance program of the National Ballet of Cuba offers studies that cover different disciplines applicable to individuals or particular groups these often include: Ballet, En pointe , Variations, Classic Duet, Modern Dance, Outlook of the history of the dance, music appreciation, physical preparation and Make-up. [edit] Courses and International WorkshopsThe National Ballet provides ballet courses to international students, it rewards graduates with a valuable certificate awarded by the National Ballet of Cuba. The International Dance Program of the National Ballet of Cuba is directed by the Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso.The program summons professionals and students of advanced levels of both sexes, to its unique courses of on technique, style and the interpretative concepts of the Cuban School of Ballet. The duration of the courses can vary and may begin at any time of the year. Programs are structured by means of theoretical-practical classes in a basic module integrated by classes of Ballet, En pointe and physical preparation. Individual programs may be structured to qualified professionals and students at Ms. Alonso's discretion. Further information can be obtained by contacting The National Ballet of Cuba in Havana. [edit] References[edit] Notes
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