I am resident in Havana, and looking forward to the Festival that starts next week! Here is the program and casting, subject to change of course. I have tickets to the Opening night at the Gran Teatro, as well as Nov. 5 and 6 at Gran Teatro. I am really looking forward to the Spartacus PDD with Kaptsova and Carlos Acosta!! Will post my impressions !!

> Actualización: 11de octubre del 2008 [Updated: october 11 /
> 2008] > PROGRAMACIÓN (sujeta a cambios) / PROGRAMMING
> (subject to changes) > > 21. Festival Internacional de
> Ballet de La Habana > 21st. International Ballet Festival
> of Havana > > del 28 de octubre al 6 de noviembre del
> 2008 / October 28th - November 6th, 2008 > > (Gran
> Teatro de La Habana [Prado e/ San José y San Rafael, La
> Habana Vieja. Telf.: 861 3077] / Teatro Mella [Línea e/ A y
> B, El Vedado. Telf.: 833 8696] / Teatro América [Galiano e/
> Neptuno y Concordia, Centro Habana. Telf.: 862 5416] / EM:
> Estreno Mundial / EC: Estreno en Cuba) / Cor: Coreografía /
> M: Música / D: Diseños / E: Escenografía / V: Vestuarios
> / L: Luces / Int: Intérprete / Dir: Dirección)> (Grand
> Theater of Havana [Prado between San José and San Rafael
> Sts. Old Havana. Telf. 861 3077] / Theater Mella [Línea
> between A and B Sts. El Vedado. Telf. 833 8696] / Theater
> America [Galiano between Neptuno and Concordia Sts., Center
> Havana. Telf. 862 5416] / WP: World premiere / CP: Premiere
> in Cuba / Ch: Choreography / M: Music. / D: Designs / S: Set
> designs / W: Wardrobe / L: lights / P: Performer / Dir:
> Direction) > > OCTUBRE [OCTOBER]> > Martes 28
> [Tuesday 28]
> ……………………………………….…………………………..……………………….>
> GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.) > Gala Inaugural [Opening Gala]> -Himno Nacional
> [National Anthem]> -Desfile [Parade]> -Palabras de
> apertura [Opening remarks] > -Estreno del documental 60º
> aniversario del Ballet Nacional de Cuba [Premiere of
> documentary “60th Anniversary of the Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba”] > -A la caída de la tarde [At Sunset] [EC/CP]
> (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso. M: José Dolores Cerón) Int/P:
> Ballet Nacional de Cuba> -Tema y variaciones [Theme and
> Variations] (Cor/Ch: George Balanchine. M: Piotr Ilich
> Chaikovski. D y/and L: Salvador Fernández). Int/P: Ballet
> Nacional de Cuba > Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional.
> Director: Giovanni Duarte [Symphonic National Orchestra:
> Conductor: Giovanni Duarte]. > > TEATRO LAS TUNAS (LAS
> TUNAS) (9:00 p.m.)> -Romancero gitano (Cor/Ch: Cristina
> Hoyos, inspirada en la pieza de Federico García Lorca. M:
> Pedro Sierra. Dirección escénica: José Carlos Plaza.
> Int/P: Ballet Flamenco de/of Andalucía. (España/Spain)
> > > Miércoles 29 [Wednesday 29]
> ……………………………………………..…………………………………..….>
> GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.) > -La bella durmiente del bosque [The Sleeping
> Beauty of the Forest] (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso, sobre la
> original de Marius Petipa [based on the original by Marius
> Petipa]. M: Piotr Ilich Chaikovski. E/S: Ricardo Reymena.
> V/W: Philippe Binot). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba
> (Viengay Valdés, Rómel Frómeta, solistas y cuerpo de
> baile). > Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional. Director: Elena
> Herrera [Symphonic National Orchestra. Conductor: Elena
> Herrera] > > TEATRO MELLA [THEATER MELLA] (5.00 p.m.)
> > - Autoretrato. Int/P: Compañía [Company] María
> Pagés (España/Spain) > > TEATRO SAUTO (MATANZAS)>
> -Jaleo flamenco (Cor/Ch: Matilde Rubio [I y III movimientos]
> y Carlos Rodríguez [II movimiento]. M: Carlos Piñana).
> Int/P: Ballet Español de Murcia [Beatriz Arce, Ana Machuca,
> Inés Hellín, Verónica López, Andrés Fernández, Antonio
> González, David Pinar y Jonatan Mondéjar] (España/Spain)
> > > TEATRO LAS TUNAS (LAS TUNAS) (9:00 p.m.)>
> -Romancero gitano (Cor/Ch: Cristina Hoyos, inspirada en la
> pieza de Federico García Lorca. M: Pedro Sierra. Dirección
> escénica: José Carlos Plaza. Int/P: Ballet Flamenco de/of
> Andalucía. (España/Spain) > > Jueves 30 [Thursday
> 30]…………………………………………………………………....……………………….>
> GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.) > -La bella durmiente del bosque [The Sleeping
> Beauty of the Forest] (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso, sobre la
> original de [based on the original by] Marius Petipa. M:
> Piotr Ilich Chaikovski. E/S: Ricardo Reymena. V/W: Philippe
> Binot). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Anette Delgado, Joel
> Carreño, solistas y cuerpo de baile). > Orquesta
> Sinfónica Nacional. Director: Elena Herrera [Symphonic
> National Orchestra. Conductor: Elena Herrera] > >
> TEATRO MELLA [THEATER MELLA] (5.00 p.m.) > - Autoretrato.
> Int/P: Compañía [Company] María Pagés (España/Spain)
> > > TEATRO AMÉRICA [THEATER AMERICA] (8.30 p.m.) >
> Programa Concierto [Mixed Program]> -Valeria Álvarez
> (Taller Coreográfico de la Universidad Autónoma de
> México) y/and Jorge Vega (Ballet Nacional de Cuba)>
> -Arturo Vázquez (Taller Coreográfico de la Universidad
> Autónoma de México) > -El mercader y la esclava [pas de
> deux del I Acto de El Corsario] Cor/Ch: Marius Petipa. M:
> Lugwing Minkus Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Linnet
> González y/and Elier Bourzac)> –Pasión (Cor/Ch:
> Héctor Sanzana. M: Giacomo Puccini. V/W: Marcelino
> Hernández. E/S: Rodrigo Rodríguez) Int/P: Ballet Teresa
> Carreño [Alejandra Martínez y Walter Castillo / Rosselyn
> Ramírez y Javier Solano] (Venezuela)> –El amor brujo
> (Cor/Ch: Héctor Sanzana. M: Manuel de Falla. V/W: Maribel
> Suárez. E/S: Rodrigo Rodríguez) Int/P: Ballet Teresa
> Carreño (Venezuela)> > TEATRO LAS TUNAS (LAS TUNAS)
> (9:00 p.m.)> -Romancero gitano (Cor/Ch: Cristina Hoyos,
> inspirada en la pieza de Federico García Lorca. M: Pedro
> Sierra. Dirección escénica: José Carlos Plaza. Int/P:
> Ballet Flamenco de/of Andalucía. (España/Spain) > >
> > Viernes 31 [Friday
> 31]……………………………………………………..………………………….…………..>
> TEATRO AMÉRICA [THEATER AMERICA] (8.30 p.m.) > -Programa
> concierto [Mixed Program] > -Diana Cuni y/and Tomas Lund
> (Real Ballet Danés, Dinamarca)> -Carmen, pas de deux
> (Cor/Ch: Alberto Alonso. M: Georges Bizet. D: Salvador
> Fernández) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay Valdés
> y/and Rómel Frómeta)> –Pasión (Cor/Ch: Héctor
> Sanzana. M: Giacomo Puccini. V/W: Marcelino Hernández. E/S:
> Rodrigo Rodríguez) Int/P: Ballet Teresa Carreño [Alejandra
> Martínez y Walter Castillo / Rosselyn Ramírez y Javier
> Solano] (Venezuela)> –El amor brujo (Cor/Ch: Héctor
> Sanzana. M: Manuel de Falla. V/W: Maribel Suárez. E/S:
> Rodrigo Rodríguez) Int/P: Ballet Teresa Carreño
> (Venezuela)> > PLAZA DE LA CATEDRAL [CATHEDRAL SQUARE]
> (9.00 p.m.) > -Shakespeare y sus máscaras [Shakespeare
> and his Masks] (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso. M: Charles Gounod.
> Adaptaciones orquestales [Orchestral adaptations]: Juan
> Piñera. Libreto: José Ramón Neyra sobre la tragedia Romeo
> y Julieta, de [on the tragedy Romeo and Juliet, by] William
> Shakespeare. E/S: Ricardo Reymena. V/W: Pedro Moreno. L:
> Gloria Montesinos). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Anette
> Delgado, Javier Torres, solistas y cuerpo de baile)> >
> TEATRO SAUTO (MATANZAS) (8:30 p.m.)> -Autoretrato. Int/P:
> Compañía [Company] María Pagés (España/Spain) > >
> TEATRO CÁRDENAS (MATANZAS) (9:00 p.m.)> -Jaleo flamenco
> (Cor/Ch: Matilde Rubio [I y III movimientos] y Carlos
> Rodríguez [II movimiento]. M: Carlos Piñana). Int/P:
> Ballet Español de Murcia [Beatriz Arce, Ana Machuca, Inés
> Hellín, Verónica López, Andrés Fernández, Antonio
> González, David Pinar y Jonatan Mondéjar] (España/Spain)
> > > NOVIEMBRE / [NOVEMBER]> > Sábado 1
> [Saturday
> 1]………………………………………………………………………………………………
> > GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA]
> (8.30 p.m.)> Gala de la entrega del Premio del VI
> Concurso Iberoamericano de Coreografía CIC´2008 [Gala -
> Delivery of the VI Ibero-American Competition Award of
> Choreography CIC´2008] > -A los confines de la tierra
> [To the Confines of the Earth] [EM/WP] Premio CIC´2008
> [Award CIC´2008] (Cor/Ch: Tania Vergara. M: Luar Na Lubre).
> Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba> -Myriam Ould-Braham y and
> Emmanuel Thibault (Ballet de la Ópera de París)> -Solo
> de María Pagés> -Ché [EC/CP] (Cor/Ch: Michel
> Descombey. M: Marc-Antoine Charpentier y sonidos concretos.
> Proyecciones: Michel Descombey y Fernando Maldonado) Int/ P:
> Ballet Nacional de Cuba> -Chaikovski pas de deux (Cor/Ch:
> George Balanchín. M: Piotr Ilich Chaikovski. V: Salvador
> Fernández) Int: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay Valdés
> y/and Rómel Frómeta)> -Cuadros en una exposición
> [Pictures of an Exhibition] (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso. M:
> Modest Mussorgski, orquestada por Maurice Ravel. Obras de
> los pintores (por orden de aparición en el ballet)
> [orchestrated by Maurice Ravel. The painters' works (in
> appearance order in the ballet)]: Alfredo Sosabravo, Roberto
> Fabelo, Ángel Ramírez, Zaida del Río, Gólgota, William
> Hernández, Arturo Montoto, Alicia Leal, Nelson Domínguez,
> Ileana Mulet y Cosme Proenza. Coordinador de la producción
> artística / Artistic Production Coordinator: Ricardo
> Reymena. V/W: Roberto Fabelo, Zaida del Río, Gólgota,
> Alicia Leal, Nelson Domínguez, Ileana Mulet y Ricardo
> Reymena [diseño de producción escénica] / [Scenic
> Production design]. L: Ruddy Artiles). Int/P: Ballet
> Nacional de Cuba > Orquesta Sinfónica del Gran Teatro de
> La Habana. Director: Giovanni Duarte [Symphonic Orchestra of
> the Grand Theater of Havana. Conductor: Giovanni Duarte].
> > > TEATRO MELLA [THEATER MELLA] (5.00 p.m.)>
> -Napoli [III Acto / Act] (Cor/Ch: August Bournonville y Hans
> Beck. M: N. W. Gade, E. Helsted, H. S. Paulli y/and H. C.
> Lumbre. D: Soren Frandsen. Montaje/Staging: Frank Andersen,
> Eva Kloborg y Anne Marie Vessel-Schlüter). Int/P: Diana
> Cuni y/and Tomas Lund (Real Ballet Danés, Dinamarca)>
> -Valeria Álvarez (Taller Coreográfico de la Universidad
> Autónoma de México) y /and Jorge Vega> -Leda y el
> cisne. (Cor/Ch: Iván Tenorio. M: Claude Debussy) Int/P:
> Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Yanela Piñera y/and Javier
> Torres)> -El amor brujo [Bewitching love] (Cor/Ch: Ramón
> Oller. Dir Musical [Musical direction]: Joan Cerveró. M:
> Manuel de Falla [versión 1925]. E/S: A partir de una idea
> de [Based on an idea by] Paco Azorín. D y realización de
> vestuario [Design and wardrobe]: Pascual Peris). Int/P:
> Ballet de Teatres de la Generalitat de Valencia [Diego
> Arconada, Far Alonso, Denis Bruno, Fabrizio Coppo, Jerónimo
> Forteza, Yvette García, Tamara Rosa Gosman, Lara
> Hernandorena, Diana Huertas, Gustavo Muñiz, Lorena Ortiz,
> Samuel Retortillo, Cathy Royo, Fátima Sanlés, Bilyana
> Shopova, Pilar Sospedra, Elisabeth Taberner, Diego Tortelli
> y Miriam Vilas] (España/Spain). > > TEATRO AMÉRICA
> [THEATER AMERICA] (5:00 p.m.)> -Programa concierto [Mixed
> program] > -Karina Olmedo y/and Juan Pablo Ledo (Ballet
> Estable del Teatro Colón, Argentina)> -Arturo Vázquez
> (Taller Coreográfico de la Universidad Autónoma de
> México)> -Don Quijote, pas de deux (Cor/Ch: Alicia
> Alonso, sobre la original de Marius Petipa y la versión de
> Anatole Obukov. M: Ludwig Minkus. V: Salvador Fernández)
> Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Anette Delgado y/and Joel
> Carreño)> -Jaleo flamenco (Cor/Ch: Matilde Rubio [I y
> III movimientos] y Carlos Rodríguez [II movimiento]. M:
> Carlos Piñana). Int/P: Ballet Español de Murcia [Beatriz
> Arce, Ana Machuca, Inés Hellín, Verónica López, Andrés
> Fernández, Antonio González, David Pinar y Jonatan
> Mondéjar] (España/Spain) > > TEATRO SAUTO> -La
> fiesta del pueblo, Los aires yucatecos, Chinito koy-koy, A
> zapatear, El flaco Miguel, Renán y Aldair, Rebozo de
> algodón, Canastas de Halachó, El degollete, El píchito
> amoroso, Las mujeres que se pintan, Mi lindo Motul (Suerte
> con botella), Mi yucateca (Almudes), Mimí Ginés (Suerte
> con charola), Mi yucateca (Almudes y charolas), Torito y
> Dianas (Directora: Mtra. Llanely Cauich Chic). Int/P: Ballet
> Folklórico de Mérida [Luciana Chan Córdova, Grettel
> Rebeca Mex Uc, Paulina Guadalupe Herrera Solís, Alejandra
> Cruz Kin, Jesús de la Cruz Campos Chic, Manuel Jesús
> Canché Huchim, Miguel Aaron Sansores Solís, Raúl Humberto
> Lam Medina, Asis Carvajal Mijangos, Geovanni Lara Valdez,
> Teresita Medina Zapata, Juan José Polanco Moreno, Karina
> Isabel Ríos Pech, José Gonzalo Rodríguez Jiménez, Mariel
> Salazar Carbonell y Yolanda Trujeque Laviada] (México).>
> > Domingo 2 [Sunday
> 2]………………………………………………..…………………………………………….>
> GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.)> Gala por el 65º Aniversario del debut de Alicia
> Alonso en Giselle [Gala for the 65th Anniversary of Alicia
> Alonso’s premiere in Giselle] > -Giselle (Cor/Ch:
> Alicia Alonso, sobre la original de [after the original by]
> Jean Coralli y/and Jules Perrot. Libreto / Libretto:
> Théophile Gautier, Vernoy de Saint-Georges y/and Jean
> Coralli, inspirado en una leyenda popular germánica
> recogida por [inspired by a Germanic popular legend as told
> by] Heinrich Heine. M: Adolphe Adam. D: Salvador
> Fernández). Int / P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba > Orquesta
> Sinfónica del Gran Teatro de La Habana. Director: Giovanni
> Duarte [Symphonic Orchestra of the Grand Theater of Havana.
> Conductor: Giovanni Duarte]. > > TEATRO MELLA [THEATER
> MELLA] (5.00p.m.)> -Un concierto en blanco y negro
> (Cor/Ch: José Parés. M: Franz Joseph Hayden. D: Salvador
> Fernández) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Sadaise
> Arencibia y cuerpo de baile)> - Miguel Ángel Berna
> (España/Spain)> -Cuando las hojas caen (Cor/Ch: Anthony
> Tudor. M: Antonín Dvorák.). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba
> (Anette Delgado y/and Javier Torres) > -El amor brujo
> [Bewitching love]. (Cor/Ch: Ramón Oller. Dir Musical /
> Musical direction: Joan Cerveró. M: Manuel de Falla
> [versión 1925]. E/S: A partir de una idea de [Based on an
> idea by] Paco Azorín. D y realización de vestuario /
> Design and wardrobe: Pascual Peris). Int/P: Ballet de
> Teatres de la Generalitat de Valencia [Diego Arconada, Far
> Alonso, Denis Bruno, Fabrizio Coppo, Jerónimo Forteza,
> Yvette García, Tamara Rosa Gosman, Lara Hernandorena, Diana
> Huertas, Gustavo Muñiz, Lorena Ortiz, Samuel Retortillo,
> Cathy Royo, Fátima Sanlés, Bilyana Shopova, Pilar
> Sospedra, Elisabeth Taberner, Diego Tortelli y Miriam Vilas]
> (España/Spain). > > TEATRO AMÉRICA [THEATER AMERICA]
> (5:00 p.m.)> -Programa concierto [Mixed program] >
> -Edina Plicanic y/and Ronald Savkovic (Ballet de la Ópera
> de Berlín)> -Karina Olmedo y/and Juan Pablo Ledo (Ballet
> Estable del Teatro Colón, Argentina)> -La fiesta del
> pueblo, Los aires yucatecos, Chinito koy-koy, A zapatear, El
> flaco Miguel, Renán y Aldair, Rebozo de algodón, Canastas
> de Halachó, El degollete, El píchito amoroso, Las mujeres
> que se pintan, Mi lindo Motul (Suerte con botella), Mi
> yucateca (Almudes), Mimí Ginés (Suerte con charola), Mi
> yucateca (Almudes y charolas), Torito y Dianas (Directora:
> Mtra. Llanely Cauich Chic). Int/P: Ballet Folklórico de
> Mérida [Luciana Chan Córdova, Grettel Rebeca Mex Uc,
> Paulina Guadalupe Herrera Solís, Alejandra Cruz Kin, Jesús
> de la Cruz Campos Chic, Manuel Jesús Canché Huchim, Miguel
> Aaron Sansores Solís, Raúl Humberto Lam Medina, Asis
> Carvajal Mijangos, Geovanni Lara Valdez, Teresita Medina
> Zapata, Juan José Polanco Moreno, Karina Isabel Ríos Pech,
> José Gonzalo Rodríguez Jiménez, Mariel Salazar Carbonell
> y Yolanda Trujeque Laviada] (México).> > Lunes 3
> [Monday 3]
> ……………………………………………….……………………………………….…….>
> TEATRO AMÉRICA [THEATER AMERICA] (8:30 p.m.)> -Rasmia.
> Int /P: Compañía [Company] Miguel Ángel Berna
> (España/Spain)> > PLAZA DE LA CATEDRAL [CATHEDRAL
> SQUARE] (9.00 p.m.)> -El lago de los cisnes [Swan Lake]
> (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso, sobre la original de [after the
> original by] Marius Petipa y/and Lev Ivánov. M: Piotr Ilich
> Chaikovski. E/S: Ricardo Reymena. V/W: Francis Montesinos
> y/and Julio Castaño. L: Ruddy Artiles). Int/P: Ballet
> Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay Valdés, Rómel Frómeta,
> solistas y cuerpo de baile) > > TEATRO CÁRDENAS
> (MATANZAS)> –Pasión (Cor/Ch: Héctor Sanzana. M:
> Giacomo Puccini. V/W: Marcelino Hernández. E/S: Rodrigo
> Rodríguez) Int/P: Ballet Teresa Carreño [Alejandra
> Martínez y Walter Castillo / Rosselyn Ramírez y Javier
> Solano] (Venezuela)> –Espartaco (Cor/Ch: Yuri
> Grigorovich. M: Aram Jachaturian ) Int/P: Ballet Teresa
> Carreño [Cristina Amaral y Walter Castillo] (Venezuela)>
> –El amor brujo (Cor/Ch: Héctor Sanzana. M: Manuel de
> Falla. V/W: Maribel Suárez. E/S: Rodrigo Rodríguez) Int/P:
> Ballet Teresa Carreño (Venezuela)> –Texturas (Cor/Ch:
> Héctor Sanzana. M: Alberto Ginastera. V/W: Maribel Suárez)
> Int/P: Ballet Teresa Carreño (Venezuela)> -La fiesta del
> pueblo, Los aires yucatecos, Chinito koy-koy, A zapatear, El
> flaco Miguel, Renán y Aldair, Rebozo de algodón, Canastas
> de Halachó, El degollete, El píchito amoroso, Las mujeres
> que se pintan, Mi lindo Motul (Suerte con botella), Mi
> yucateca (Almudes), Mimí Ginés (Suerte con charola), Mi
> yucateca (Almudes y charolas), Torito y Dianas (Directora:
> Mtra. Llanely Cauich Chic). Int/P: Ballet Folklórico de
> Mérida [Luciana Chan Córdova, Grettel Rebeca Mex Uc,
> Paulina Guadalupe Herrera Solís, Alejandra Cruz Kin, Jesús
> de la Cruz Campos Chic, Manuel Jesús Canché Huchim, Miguel
> Aaron Sansores Solís, Raúl Humberto Lam Medina, Asis
> Carvajal Mijangos, Geovanni Lara Valdez, Teresita Medina
> Zapata, Juan José Polanco Moreno, Karina Isabel Ríos Pech,
> José Gonzalo Rodríguez Jiménez, Mariel Salazar Carbonell
> y Yolanda Trujeque Laviada] (México).> > Martes 4
> [Tuesday 4]
> …………………………………………..……………………………………….……….>
> GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.)> -Serenata goyesca [Goyesque Serenade] (Cor/Ch:
> Alicia Alonso. M: Joaquín Rodrigo. D: Erick Grass. L: Pedro
> Benítez). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Marlen Fuerte,
> Yadil Suárez y cuerpo de baile) > -Bach x 11 (Cor/Ch:
> José Parés. M: Misa en Si Menor de Juan Sebastian Bach.
> [Mass in B minor by Johannes Sebastian Bach]. D: Otto
> Chaviano). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay Valdés,
> Dayron Vera y cuerpo de baile). > - Edina Plicanic y/and
> Ronald Savkovic (Ballet de la Ópera de Berlín)> -Karina
> Olmedo y/and Juan Pablo Ledo (Ballet Estable del Teatro
> Colón)> -Bhakti (Cor/Ch: Maurice Béjart. M: Folklore
> Hindú. V: Salvador Fernández) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba ((Sadaise Arencibia y/and Javier Torres)> -Una rosa,
> una rosa… [EM] (Cor: Ramón Oller. M: Poemas de Rosalía
> de Castro con música de Amancio Prada y Carlos Núñez.
> Diseños: Salvador Fernández) Int/¬P: Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba (Anette Delgado, Joel Carreño y cuerpo de baile)>
> > > TEATRO MELLA [THEATER MELLA] (5.00p.m.)>
> -Romancero gitano (Cor/Ch: Cristina Hoyos, inspirada en la
> pieza de Federico García Lorca. M: Pedro Sierra. Dirección
> escénica: José Carlos Plaza. Int/P: Ballet Flamenco de/of
> Andalucía. (España/Spain) > > TEATRO AMÉRICA
> [THEATER AMERICA] (8.30 p.m.)> -Programa concierto>
> -Valeria Álvarez ((Taller Coreográfico de la Universidad
> Autónoma de México) y/and Jorge Vega (Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba)> -Arturo Vázquez (Taller Coreográfico de la
> Universidad Autónoma de México)> -Coppélia, pas de
> deux (Cor: Alicia Alonso, sobre la original de Arthur
> Saint-Léon y la versión de Marius Petipa. M: Léo Delibes
> D: Salvador Fernández) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba
> (Yanela Piñera y/and Alejandro Virelles) > -Ballet Kim
> Sun.hee (Corea/Korea)> > Miércoles 5 [Wednesday 5]
> …………………………………………………….………………………….………>
> GRAN TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.)> Gala 400 años de Literatura Cubana [GALA 400
> years of Cuban Literatura] > -Las sílfides [Les
> Sylphides] (Cor/Ch: Montaje de [Staging by] Alicia Alonso
> según la versión original de [according to the original
> version by] Mijaíl Fokín. M: Fryderyk Chopin. D: Salvador
> Fernández sobre los originales de [on the originals by]
> Alexander Benois). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Anette
> Delgado, Alejandro Virelles, solistas y cuerpo de baile)
> > -La muerte del cisne (Cor/Ch: Mijaíl Fokine. M:
> Camille Saint-Saëns) Int/P: Nina Kapsova (Rusia) >
> -Lucía Jerez [EM/WP] (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso sobre la novela
> homónima de José Martí. M: Enrique González Mantici. D:
> Frank Álvarez. Libreto inspirado en el original de Fina
> García Marruz). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay
> Valdés, Yadil Suárez y cuerpo de baile)> -Le bourgeois
> (Cor/Ch: Ben van Couvenberg. M: Jacques Brel) Int/P: Carlos
> Acosta (Ballet Nacional de Cuba)> -La flauta mágica [The
> magic flute] (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso, inspirada en la obra
> homónima de Lev Ivánov [inspired by Lev Ivanov’s
> homonymous work]. M: Riccardo Drigo. D: Ricardo Reymena.
> Luces/ Lights: Ruddy Artiles). Int/P: Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba (Linnet González, Elier Bourzac, Víctor Gilí
> solistas y cuerpo de baile) > Orquesta Sinfónica del
> Gran Teatro de La Habana. Director: Giovanni Duarte
> [Symphonic Orchestra of the Grand Theater of Havana.
> Conductor: Giovanni Duarte] > > TEATRO MELLA [THEATER
> MELLA] (5.00p.m.)> -Romancero gitano (Cor/Ch: Cristina
> Hoyos, inspirada en la pieza de Federico García Lorca. M:
> Pedro Sierra. Dirección escénica: José Carlos Plaza.
> Int/P: Ballet Flamenco de/of Andalucía. (España/Spain)
> > > TEATRO AMÉRICA [THEATER AMERICA] (8.30 p.m.)>
> -Programa Concierto [Mixed program]> - Edina Plicanic
> y/and Ronald Savkovic (Ballet de la Ópera de Berlín)>
> -Valeria Álvarez ((Taller Coreográfico de la Universidad
> Autónoma de México) y/and Jorge Vega (Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba)> -Grand pas de deux Classique (Cor/Ch: Alicia
> Alonso sobre la original de Víctor Gsovski. M: Daniel
> François Auber. V: Salvador Fernández) Int/P: Ballet
> Nacional de Cuba (Sadaise Arencibia y/and Javier Torres)>
> -Ballet Kim-Sun.hee (Corea/Korea)> > Jueves 6
> [Thursday
> 6]…………………………………………………………………………………..……….>
> TEATRO MELLA [THEATER MELLA] (5.00p.m.)> -En las sombras
> de un vals [In the Shades of a Waltz] (Cor/Ch: Alicia
> Alonso. M: Josef Strauss. D: Ricardo Reymena). Int/P: Ballet
> Nacional de Cuba (Sadaise Arencibia, Javier Torres y cuerpo
> de baile) > -Arturo Vázquez (Taller Coreográfico de la
> Universidad Autónoma de México)> -Tiempo fuera de la
> memoria (Cor/Ch: Brian Mc Donald. M: Paul Creston. D
> Salvador Fernández) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Regina
> Hernández, Yadil Suárez y cuerpo de baile)>
> -Cascanueces, pas de deux (Cor/Ch: Alicia Alonso, sobre la
> original de Lev Ivánov. M: Piotr Ilich Chaikovski. D: Guido
> Fiorato) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Yanela Piñera
> y/and Alejandro Virelles)> -Don Quijote (suite) (Cor/Ch:
> Alicia Alonso, sobre la original de Marius Petipa y la
> versión de Anatole Obukov. M: Ludwig Minkus. V. Salvador
> Fernández: Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay
> Valdés, Rómel Frómeta y cuerpo de baile)> > GRAN
> TEATRO DE LA HABANA [GRAND THEATER OF HAVANA] (8.30
> p.m.)> Gala de Clausura [Closing Gala] (Programa por
> definir)> -Acentos (Cor/Ch: Eduardo Blanco. M: Havana
> Calipso por el grupo Luna Negra) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de
> Cuba> -Cristina Hoyos y Mariano Bernal
> (España/Spain)> -Esmeralda (Cor/Ch: Inspirada en la
> original de Marius Petipa. M: Cesare Pugni- R. Marenco. V:
> Salvador Fernández) Int/P: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Anette
> Delgado y/and Joel Carreño)> --Valeria Álvarez (Taller
> Coreográfico de la Universidad Autónoma de México) y/and
> Jorge Vega (Ballet Nacional de Cuba)> -Curioso [EM/WP]
> (Cor/Ch: Iván Pérez Avilés. V/W: Frank Álvarez) Int/P:
> Ballet Nacional de Cuba> - Eclosión [EM/WP] [Homenaje a
> Marcel Marceau] (Cor/Ch: Julio Capote y Emilia Puente, sobre
> una ideal original de [based on an original idea by] Javier
> Torres. Técnica de mimo [Mime technique]: Julio Capote. M:
> Claude Debussy. D: Salvador Fernández). Int/P: Javier
> Torres (Ballet Nacional de Cuba)> -Espartaco (Cor/Ch:
> Yuri Grigorovitch. M:Aram Jachaturian) Int/P: Nina Kapsova
> (Rusia) y/and Carlos Acosta (Ballet Nacional de Cuba)>
> -Ballet Kim-Sun.hee (Corea/Korea)> -El Carnaval en
> Venecia (Cor/Ch: Marius Petipa. M: Cesare Pugni) Int/P:
> Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Viengsay Valdés, Rómel Frómeta,
> Sadaise Arencibia y/and Elier Bourzac)> Orquesta
> Sinfónica del Gran Teatro de La Habana. Director: Giovanni
> Duarte [Symphonic Orchestra of the Grand Theater of Havana.
> Conductor: Giovanni Duarte].

The Opening Gala of the 21st International Ballet Festival of Havana was a fabulous evening. When I turned onto Prado Street, en route to the Gran Teatro, and the street in front of the Teatro was blocked off to auto traffic, I knew that there would be some big-wigs present tonight.
Prior to the performance I enjoyed a mojito with my friends at the neighboring Hotel Ingleterra. Inside the hotel lobby down one of the hallways, photos of Alicia Alonso decorated the walls. Security was in place getting into the theatre; only those holding tickets were even allowed to approach the building. I entered and was escorted to my seat. As custom, right before performances begin, Alicia Alonso appears on the first tier center (box M equivalent space, but no box) and is greeted by an audience on their feet applauding her. Tonight as 8:30 approached, I was reading my program and when the bustling of people coming to their feet and applauding started, I joined and turned around to see that it was President Raul Castro himself, with Ricardo Alcaron President of the National Assembly and the Minister of Culture, among others.
The gala began with the Cuban national anthem. All the while the floor on both sides, lined with press, was buzzing with cameras going off. First we were treated to the desfile solemne – the “parade” of Cuban ballet students on stage, starting with the very youngest, I would guess age 6-7-8, through teenagers and older students, and finally the principal dancers of the Ballet Nacional. Set to a mazurka I believe from Coppelia, the dancers, girls in black leotards boys in black unitards, or younger boys in black spandex shorts, proudly walked downstage, did a port de bras, turned, profile and then departed the stage. Though basic, it was a beautiful display of the young dancers. This progressed, going from youngest to oldest dancers, until finally from upstage, Alicia Alonso appeared escorted on both sides by 2 of the male principal dancers, I believe one was Joel Carreno, and slowly walked downstage, to roaring applause. Simultaneously on both aisles of the orchestra level seats the young students filed and stood, posing gracefully. Not only was this the gala opening of the Ballet Festival, it was also a celebration of 60 years of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and the night was very much a tribute to Ms. Alonso and her contributions to ballet in Cuba.
Next, the Minister of Culture gave some comments commending Ms. Alonso, discussing the development of the ballet in Cuba. He mentioned the outpouring of offers following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, of dancers from abroad to contribute to the festival. At the end of the speech he read a letter dated a week earlier from Fidel Castro to Ms. Alonso thanking her for her work and applauding her.
The first dance was “A la Caida de la Tarde” (“At Sunset”) choreographed by Alicia Alonso and set to the music of Jose Dolores Ceron. It was a romantic, lyrical piece of about 6 couples dancing, with a backdrop of an ocean scene and a sun at sunset. As the piece continued, gradually the sun went down, and at the end the backdrop was the night sky with stars, and the stage was dark but the women held lights in each hand and continued dancing, being partnered. Following this brief piece, a film was shown, which was the premiere of the documentary “60th Anniversary of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba” with clips of Alicia Alonso dancing, as well as current dancers. The final piece was “Theme and Variations” – a perfect selection to end the evening. The turquoise and black costumes were gorgeous. I would guess they were brand new for the occasion. Sadaise Arencibia was elegant and her extensions and arches remind one of Sylvie Guillem. Joel Carreno was a favorite with the audience. Romel Frometa’s technique is impeccable in my opinion, he is a left turner and very comfortable at that – and he is quite a jumper. Viengsay Valdes also shined, as usual, executing the fancy footwork of Balanchine with ease. The corps de ballet is a pleasure to watch – these dancers are so young and so talented and exhibit a joy when they dance, that convinces me they have a natural talent and ability. The Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional was excellent, particularly with the Tchaikovsky, conducted by Giovani Duarte.

Nov. 5, 2008
Tonight’s performance was dedicated to 400 years of Cuban literature. The night opened with Les Sylphides – the corps was beautiful. Alejandro Virelles who physically resembles Nikolai Tsiskaridze with his arches, extensions and flexibility – has a pure, clean technique and was a pleasure to watch. While Anette Delgado’s technique is very good, she danced with an expression on her face that looked like she was uncomfortable.
The second piece was “Lucia Jerez” – the world premiere based on the story by Jose Marti, choreographed by Alicia Alonso. Viengsay Valdes was the lead in a red dress, and I am convinced she was born to dance. She has a natural beauty and excellent technique. At the end of this short piece, Ms. Alonso was escorted by Valdes and one of the male dancers during the bows, and received loud cheers and applause from the audience. It was so moving.
By far the evening belonged to Carlos Acosta. The audience went wild when the curtain opened for his piece, and when he appeared, the audience exploded with cheers. He danced the short piece “Le Bourgeois” by Ben van Couvenberg to a song by Jacques Brel. Acosta plays a drunk and appeared onstage with a bottle of vodka – wearing gray pants and a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The choreography fits with the French lyrics. I had never seen him in person and what a pleasure – he is absolutely gorgeous. The cheers and roars of applause were incredible and he got a substantial ovation.
One difference I noticed with the Cuban audience that I haven’t seen anywhere else in the world is the tendency to talk during the performance. It’s so aggravating. The conductor Giovanni Duarte would wait until the house was quit to start conducting. Before starting the last piece, “The Magic Flute” he must have waited 2-3 minutes, shaking his head in displeasure, holding up his hand to the orchestra to indicate they would wait until it was quiet. Finally a foreigner in my row turned around and “SHHed” the audience very loudly. Mr. Duarte also would while he was conducting, if people were talking, turn around and look at the audience, as if to say “please be quiet!”
The Magic Flute is a comedic piece to a beautiful score by Drigo, and was danced by the lovely Grettel Morejon and Joel Carreno. Two highlights of the ballet: the solo by Alejandro Virelles as Oberon – he is so controlled, with gorgeous extensions and his naturally long limbs were accentuated by the white costume; and the pas de deux of Carreno and Morejon. In one diagonal series she does a pique arabesque chasse tour en l’air, and he catches her into a fishdive – this was spectacular. It’s a love story and when the magic flute is played it makes people dance. There were some funny moments when even Mr. Duarte would chuckle.
What a fabulous night and a treat to see Mr. Acosta, as well as Vladimir Vasiliev who was in the audience VIP section near Ms. Alonso.

XXI Festival Internacional de Ballet de la Habana – Closing Gala

November 6 2008

The evening opened with a crowd-pleasing piece choreographed by Eduardo Blanco called “Acentos” – 5 male dancers shirtless in black pants executed feat after feat to music Havana Calipso – one was Yonah Acosta, nephew of Carlos Acosta. A featured talent of these young stars is various split leaps – they would take turns showing their ability – human pyrotechnics, it was amazing to watch.
Following the dazzling dancers, 2 stars from Venezuela’s Ballet Teresa Carreno, Cristina Amaral and Federico Fernandez danced the Balcony Scene Pas de Deux from Romeo and Juliet. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of passion between the dancers – although the two are very beautiful, there was not the reckless abandon that one would expect when watching this scene, however the kiss at the end of the pas de deux was passionate and moving. With all due respect the choreography by Hector Sanzana was not as fitting to the Prokofiev score as say the Lavrovsky or MacMillan choreography – the musical climaxes were not accompanied by associated choreographic climaxes as well.
Following a short pas de deux “Cecilia Valdes” performed by the gorgeous Aurora Vasquez and Jorge Vega, Javier Torres danced Roland Petit’s “La Arlesiana” to music from Bizet’s Carmen. Also bare-chested with a bright pink sash around his waist to accentuate his black pants, Torres portrays a psychologically distressed character who, at the end of the piece jumps out the window at the rear of the stage. Torres was striking to watch.
Next came the Act II Pas de Deux from Swan Lake, danced by the Bolshoi Ballet of Belarus (country not noted in the program though) Ekaterina Borchenko and Ballet Nacional de Cuba’s Elier Bourzac. The two showed their technical purity and sheer beauty – Bourzac regal in his epaulement and the red-headed Borchenko’s gorgeous legs, extensions and port de bras for the role of Odette – both dancers were impeccable.
I did not care for the next piece – a flamenco solo portraying Medea by Christina Hoyos from Spain. I thought it was misplaced with the ballet, but the audience enjoyed her. The last piece in the first half of the evening was the pas de deux from La Esmeralda, danced by the popular Anette Delgado and Joel Carreno. The two are a good match as she is very petite and he is a compact dancer as well. I thought the role was much more fitting for her character than Les Sylphides the night before. She wore a green tutu and he a green top, he executed excellent leaps and turns ( a lefty as it seems several of the Cubans are). Her solo with the tambourine was charming and both dancers impressed the audience in the coda. I was really pleased that the solos and coda were included, since with Swan Lake it was only the pas de deux and I was hoping for more!
After intermission the Ballet des Teatres de la Generalitat Valenciana from Spain danced a modern piece called “Jardi Tancat” – 3 couples danced barefoot to music by Maria del Mar Bonet. It was mesmerizing. Next was “Media Vida” – a solo choreographed and danced by Toni Aparisi to music by Danial Flors. Unfortunately during this piece the audience was very noisy – chatting and others shushing the noise makers – my one complaint about the ballet experience in Havana is the noisy audience. Following that two stunning South Koreans from Ballet Kim Sun-hee, Han Seo-Hye and Kim Ki-Min danced the pas de deux from Corsaire. He was very slight in build but that did not preclude split jumps and what seems to be a trademark pirouette where he starts out with about 4 pirouettes then increases speed as he lowers his passé leg, making it a total of about 8 turns similar to what and ice skater does. The audience went crazy each time he did this. Her technique was very clean and overall the two were a delight to watch. During the coda fouettes, she started out doing two singles and a triple, which was great until she lost balance and had to stop and start over, and her facial expression displayed her sense of shock – this kind of threw off the rest of their performance, and at the end when she does a series of soutenous, she executed them very slowly, I would image to avoid another incident. Nonetheless they received roaring applause from the audience.
The next piece I am having a hard time finding words to describe, it was food for the soul. The Bolshoi’s Nina Kaptsova and Carlos Acosta danced the rich adagio pas de deux from Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus. I could not think of more perfect cast. She appears on stage to the exquisite music of Khachaturian, her expression of love and joy were magnificent. When he appeared on stage, the audience went wild. I absolutely love Grigorovich’s choreography which is so fitting for the music. The two performed the many complicated lifts and had a chemistry between them that really portrayed the roles of Spartacus and Phrygia.

The last piece of the night was “The Carnival of Venice” pas de deux, also known as “Satinella” danced by Viengsay Valdes and Romel Frometa, my two favorite leading dancers of the Ballet Nacional. They appeared in purple, black and gold costumes with carnival masks – shortly after they discard the masks and performed the pas de deux, solos and coda. Valdes and Frometa are consistently shining in the performances I have seen of them over the years. She has the most delightful smile not to mention a pure, strong, classical technique. He is blessed with a talent for jumping and turning, and he, also a lefty, performed excellent tours en l’air and jetes.
At the very end the dancers appeared onstage to background music of Gottschalk I believe, in dress clothes except for those who had recently danced and were still in costume, and finally Ms. Alonso in the middle of all of them, to receive a curtain call and standing ovation, and glittery pieces were dropped from the rafters – a festive end to the XXI Festival de Ballet de la Habana.

Thanks so much for covering this festival for us. It is really great to get news from places that we don't hear from much.

Yes -- these reports are fascinating to read. Please continue to post about ballet in Havana. Thank you!

You can see Ms. Alonso being presented here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7715511.stm

(If you keep your eyes open, you can spot two RDB dancers in one of the classes)

I also think that one of the guys is Joel Carreno.

Kate

Thanks for that - I missed it! The dancer in the gold at the beginning is Romel Frometa, and he and Joel Carreno are the ones presenting Ms. Alonso...

Cuba seems to be a tiny haven for all this burgeoning talent -- and no one ever gets to see or hear about it! So, cottorrita, thank you so much for the posts and for sharing! If there are more of the same, please don't hesitate to add them!