20 replies to this topic

[cubanmiamiboy]

I found this clip of the opening night of the festival, that starts with the desfile of the school-(part of it)-and finishes with Mme. Alonso being escorted onstage by Primeros Bailarines Yoel Carreno and Romel Frometa. BRAVA!!

[bart]

Fascinating and wonderful.  

For those of us not familiar with this tradition, could you give us an idea of the order and the ranking?  I was confused, for instance, when the age level -- which had been mounting up to group 5 -- fell back to llittle kids again, though with a change of costume color.

[cubanmiamiboy]

No, I'm also confused about it.  The last festival I saw live was back in 2000, and up to that point, the age level would always gradually increase...Another thing I noticed is the absence of retired dancers and teachers-(well, at least those who hasn't defected yet).  I remember the emotion of seeing the Jewels-(Pla, Araujo, Mendez, Bosh)- appear onstage, and the public warm reaction to them.  If anything, I'm always amazed at the sight of Mme's extreme turnout...

[bart]

Cristian, can you identify the unaccompanied woman who runs towards the audience at 3:40 minutes of the second clip, and then races away to stage left.   At first I thought that SHE was Alonso, miraculously rejuvenated,  and that I was in some kind of time warp.  She has extreme turnout, too.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Oh, that's the lovely Miss Barbara Garcia, the older of the Primeras Bailarinas and to be considered the last dancing exponent of the old times Alonso's school and training.
Entrance of Giselle, Act I, with Yoel Carreno

Giselle's Initiation, Act II

In Chopiniana with Romel Frometa

As Dulcinea/Kitri, DQ's dream scene

[bart]

Thanks, Cristian.  What a discovery for me, especially the series from the 2006 Giselle performance.  I love Garcia's kind of ballerina.  Her Act II Giselle creates a spirit out of a strong and even solid dancer's body -- proving that you don't need to be ethereal, wispy thin, and depressive to make the role work.     I'm looking forward to looking at more of those YouTube links in the future.