Cuban Ballet is synonymous with the
world renowned Alicia Alonso born in 1921 and the most famous
Cuban ballerina and teacher. She foundered and directed the most
important ballet company in Cuba. Born Alicia Martinez in Havana,
Alonso studied here and in New York City, New York, and London,
England. She began her career in Broadway musicals in New York.
Although plagued by eyesight problems, Alonso was one of the principal
stars of the Ballet Caravan and later of the Ballet Theater. She
was particularly noted in the role of Giselle. Alonso also created
roles for contemporary ballets, including the role of the murderess
Lizzie Borden in Fall River Legend (1948), which was choreographed
by American dancer and choreographer Agnes de Mille. In 1948 in
Cuba Alonso formed the Ballet Alicia Alonso (renamed Ballet de
Cuba in 1955 and, after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Ballet Nacional
de Cuba). Its ballet school earned admiration for the quality
of its training and recruiting system. Ballet is still very popular
in Cuba and can be admired almost daily in the countries capital,
Havana.
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