Cubarte
2004

The National Ballet of Cuba constitutes one of the most prestigious dance companies of the world and prominently ranks in contemporary Hispano American Culture The technical-artistic rigor of its dancers and and its choreographer´s wide and diverse aesthetical conception, confer to this institution an outstanding place among the greatest of its kind on international stage.

The company was settled in 1948 being Alicia Alonso its leading dancer and its very first figure. In 1950 is created the Escuela Nacional de Ballet Alicia Alonso (Alicia Alonso National Shool of Ballet) adjunct to the professional company. From their earliest stages its artistic line arised from respect to romantic and classic tradition, stimulating, at the same time, creative work of choreographers who followed a national and contemporary search line.

Already in this early stage, the setting up of full versions of lassics like Giselle, The Swans´Lake or Coppelia, was acompanied by works from the renovating movement of Diághilev´s Russian Ballets such as Petrushka or the Faun´s Nap: and ballets by Cuban choreographers such as Fiesta negra (Black Fiesta), Sóngoro cosongo, Concerto and Sombras (Shadows), among others.

Triumph of 1959 Revolution became a milestone for a new stage on Cuban ballet. That year,the National Ballet of Cuba is arranged as part of a new cultural program. Since then it has being developing continually by increasing its repertoire and promoting development of new dancers, choreographers, professors and creators among other art expressions related to dance such as : visual arts and music. Togehter with perfectioning Cuban traditional repertory, a vigorous choreographic movement with works within the most significant achievements of contemporary choreography has been encouraged.

Besides its intense activity in Cuba, where it has successfully projected its art a popular level the National Ballet of Cuba yearly develops a program of international tournees which takes it to different countries of Europe, Asia and America. Important awards, such as the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris and the "Félix Varela" National Order from the Republic of Cuba join to the acclamation by the most outstanding representatives of the specializad criticism and to the awards won by their artists, both individually, as well as international contests and festivals.

The National Ballet of Cuba is the highest expression of the Cuban School of Ballet, which based upon the cultural legacy provided by several enturies of tradition on theatre dance, has reached its own phisiognomy in which this heritage melts with Cuban culture essential features.