ABT to Visit Cuba

[Ambonnay]

Certain ABT dancers will perform in Cuba, as part of this year's Havana International Ballet Festival. The festival occurs October 28 to November 7.

http://www.cubaheadl...t_festival.html

There will be a tribute to Vladimir Vasiliev and to Galina Ulanova (not necessarily together). The V Vasiliev tribute suggests to me that there is a decent chance Hallberg would participate, because (1) Hallberg participated in the tribute at City Center to V Vasiliev earlier this year, and (2) Hallberg worked with V Vasiliev in Russia in preparation for his debut as Albrecht in the Bolshoi's Giselle earlier this year.

Dancers from the NYCB, the Royal Ballet and La Scala, among others, are also expected to participate.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Certain ABT dancers will perform in Cuba, as part of this year's Havana International Ballet Festival. The festival occurs October 28 to November 7.

http://www.cubaheadl...t_festival.html

There will be a tribute to Vladimir Vasiliev and to Galina Ulanova (not necessarily together). The V Vasiliev tribute suggests to me that there is a decent chance Hallberg would participate, because (1) Hallberg participated in the tribute at City Center to V Vasiliev earlier this year, and (2) Hallberg worked with V Vasiliev in Russia in preparation for his debut as Albrecht in the Bolshoi's Giselle earlier this year.

Dancers from the NYCB, the Royal Ballet and La Scala, among others, are also expected to participate.

Beautiful news...

[Ambonnay]

Dance Magazine tweeted the more particular dates (?) of the ABT portion of the Havana festival:

"@ABTBallet has announced their first tour to Cuba in 50 years! Nov 3-6 at the Havana Festival"

http://twitter.com/Dance_Magazine

[Dale]

Here's the official release:

PERFORMANCES TO MARK THE COMPANY’S FIRST APPEARANCE IN

CUBA IN MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS

American Ballet Theatre will travel to Cuba to perform as part of the Havana

International Ballet Festival, November 3-6, 2010, it was announced today by ABT’s

Executive Director Rachel Moore.

The 22nd Annual Havana International Ballet Festival honors Alicia Alonso,

Director of the National Ballet of Cuba and former ABT ballerina, on the occasion of her

90th birthday. American Ballet Theatre’s tour to Cuba comes at the personal invitation

of Ms. Alonso. The Festival will include two repertory performances by ABT on

November 3 and 4 and two additional Gala performances, November 5 and 6, featuring

ABT Principal Dancers and Soloists. In honor of Ms. Alonso, ABT’s repertory in

Cuba will feature Theme and Variations, a ballet created by George Balanchine for

ABT in 1947 with Ms. Alonso and Igor Youskevitch originating the leading roles. The

Company’s performances will also include Alexei Ratmansky’s Seven Sonatas and

Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free.

American Ballet Theatre last performed in Cuba in 1960 during the Company’s

20th Anniversary year. The engagement included now-legendary works from ABT’s

repertory including Billy the Kid, Theme and Variations, Fall River Legend, Jardin aux

Lilas, Fancy Free, Les Sylphides and Graduation Ball.

“This historic visit to Cuba is significant on many levels," said Rachel Moore. "It

honors ABT's past by recognizing the contributions of Alicia Alonso and looks to the

future by establishing an international dialogue with our artistic counterparts in Cuba."