Classical Ballet in Cuba When we think of classical ballet, what comes to mind? Maybe France, the place where we get our language of dance, or Italy, where ballet began as an activity for aristocrats to partake in, but there is one place that is much less famous for its classical ballet, despite its technical and artistic excellence. Cuba. The. The Ballet Nacional de Cuba was founded in 1948 by Alicia Alonso and her husband Fernando Alonso as the “Alicia Alonso Academy of Ballet” to enrich the lives and education of young Cubans with a passion for dance. The authoritarian leader of Cuba at the time, Fidel Castro, granted the Alonsos a large sum of money to continue to grow their company and school. The Ballet Nacional de Cuba is currently …show more content…
He was a violent and repressive leader who punished any form of dissent against him or his leadership. Cuban citizens were stripped of basic political freedoms under Castro and had little power to fight back against his authoritarian regime. Even before the Cuban National Ballet was formed, dance was an integral part of Cuban culture. In the forties and fifties, the Mambo and Cha-Cha were popular, and later, the Rumba and salsa dance became increasingly evident in many Cuban dance clubs of the past. Danzón is the official music genre and dance of Cuba. It is in the 2/4 time signature and is a slow partnered dance. The music is played by a traditional Cuban ensemble called a …show more content…
Although the Ballet Nacional de Cuba is a classical ballet company, there are so many elements of flair and extra pizazz that these dancers possess that is uniquely Cuban. A writer from Skidmore University once said that members of the cast of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba are “Admired for their beautiful footwork, strong dancers, and impeccable technique” (Skidmore University