Special Gala at Teatro Marti

A special gala of international ballet stars and dance premieres took place at Havana’s Teatro Marti. It was the second last event of Havana’s 28th International Ballet Festival Alicia Alonso‘s two week fest of dance.

The evening began with Valsette from Nuestros Valses. Valsette is a pas de deux performed by prima ballerina and artistic director Viengsay Valdes, partnered by Filipe Vargas of the Colombiana de Ballet Company, Incolballe. Pianist Marcos Madrigal, seated at the grand piano, played a composition by Teresa Carreño.

Premiering for the first time in Cuba, Genizas, choreographed by Inés Rojos and interpreted by dancers Samara Moratinos and Bryan Barrios of the Ballet de Teatro Teresa Carreño of Venezuela. Russia’s Nikolay Shugaev on the cello accompanied by Madrigal at the piano, in an interpretation of music by Arvo Párt .

Ara, another first for Cuba, featured ballerina Grettel Morejón of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (BNC) and Osnel Delgado from the Danse Malpaso company. The work was choreographed by Osnel Delgado, with music composed and presented by Aldo Lopez Gavilan.

Prima ballerina Maria Iliushkina of Ballet Mariinsky (St. Petersburg) danced the ephemeral and ever-lovely Dying Swan. Shugaev on the cello and pianist Daniela Rivero accompanied the aching beautiful death of Iliushkina’s swan.

Marcelo Gomez (Brazil) and Joseph Gray of the Dresden State Opera Ballet performed in Faun(e), with amazing grace and strength. David Dawson choreographed the work to the music of Claude Debussy.

Folk Room (A Work in Progress) wrapped up the night with a tremendous performance by eight dancers from the Otrolado Dance Company. Deep and dark, the work was choreographed by Norge Cedeno to music by Randy Araujo. Folk Room won a standing ovation from the captive audience