GISELLE IN CUBA & U.S.

CUBAN NATIONAL BALLET'S GISELLE

The Cuban ballet’s interpretation of the emblematic ballet Giselle, which has been acclaimed throughout the world, will begin a new run in Havana’s Grand Theatre on February 23rd, 2018.   A welcome and not to be missed addition to any people to people tour of Cuba, or for any Americans who happen to be visiting Havana during those dates. This happens to be the most important ballet in Cuba, as it put Cuban ballet on the map and made a star of its famous director Alicia Alonso. On November 2, 1943, Alicia Alonso performed the lead role of Giselle for the New York Ballet Theatre after lead ballerina Alicia Markova was unable to perform. Many years later, in 1966, Alicia Alonso and the Cuban National Ballet received the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris for their choreography of Giselle, and in 1972 the Cuban version of Giselle was performed at the Paris Opera. Nearly one-hundred years old, Alicia Alonso continues to direct Cuba’s National Ballet.

At the end of this month and in March in Havana the lead roles will be performed by Cuba’s star ballerina Anette Delgado, with other Cuban ballet stars including Viengsay Valdes, Grettel Morejon, Sadaise Arencibia, Rafael Quenedit, Patricio Reve, Raul Abreu, Ernesto Diaz, Luis Valle, Ariel Martinez, Ginett Moncho, Ely Regina Hernandez, Claudia Garcia, and Chavela Riera.    

The National Ballet’s March 1st performance will commemorate the Bicentenary of the Cuban National Academy of Bellas Artes San Alejandro. Giselle will be performed at Havana’s Grand Theatre, former home of Havana’s Centro Gallego, from February 23rd through March 4th, 2018. The Cuban National Ballet will then perform Giselle in the United States during May and June of 2018, in Chicago, Saratoga Springs, Tampa, and Washington D.C.    

By Clao York