Everything about the International Ballet Festival of Havana

If you want to travel to Cuba, it is important to know the activities you can do during your stay. Learn everything the International Ballet Festival of Havana, a cultural gala that has become a tradition and in which many countries participate.

Learn everything about the International Ballet Festival of Havana

This show was celebrated for the first time in 1960, under the organization of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), the National Institute of Tourism Industry and government organizations dedicated to culture. In addition, it is part of the massive dissemination plans of the arts of this country and is a reference for international dance.

Ballet Alicia Alonso

Alicia Alonso is a Cuban dancer and choreographer with Spanish parents. From an early age, she excelled in dance until he appeared in theaters around the world and with important institutions such as the Paris Opera Ballet, the Vienna Ballet or the Prague Ballet. In 1948, she founded the first professional ballet company on the island.

The academy opened under the name of Ballet Alicia Alonso, today it is known as the National Ballet of Cuba. The change occurred during a restructuring in 1959. A year later, the I International Ballet Festival of Havana was held. It soon acquired worldwide renown and took a tour of Europe and Asia.

In 2016, the gala added the name of the admired dancer in her title (International Ballet Festival of Havana “Alicia Alonso”). This addition was made in honor of the career of the artist and president of the BNC for the 25th edition of the contest.

Biennial realization

This dance festival is held every two years at the Gran Teatro de La Habana. Similarly, it is usual that it takes place during the last week of October and the first week of November, coinciding with the anniversary of the founding of the BNC. Additionally, it is customary to make an international presentation tour.

For its XXVI edition and commemorating the 70th anniversary of its first realization, the organizers of the festival revealed that this 2018 will be a tribute to the National Ballet of Cuba. It is estimated that the celebration will run from October 28 to November 6.

International participation

As we already mentioned, this show has achieved a positive reputation as a cultural manifestation and a reference for dance throughout the world. That is why every year more countries join the realization. From important academies to the most coveted dancers from more than 60 countries.

In this sense, in all its years, the event has opened doors to 77 foreign companies and more than a thousand people have attended the events. It should be noted that the triumph of the festival has 198 world premieres and almost 600 in Cuba. Which makes it one of the most transcendental of international dance.

Tradition

Among the highlights of the Festival are the classics The Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Sleeping Forest Beauty, Giselle, Shakespeare and their masks, among others that are not missing in their days. It is usual to perform new choreographies of these traditional stories with each edition.

Now that you know everything about the International Ballet Festival of Havana you will want to attend this important cultural event. So, book a casa particular in Old Havana to stay there and enjoy the festival.