TThe National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, is poetry, humor, energy and grandeur. The BNC occupies a relevant place among the mayor international ballet companies due to its dancers' artistic-technical level and the choreographers' wide aesthetic diversity.

The company was established in 1948, with Alicia Alonso as its main founder and its prima ballerina. Two years later, the Alicia Alonso National School of Ballet was created annexed to the professional company. In 1962 it became part of the National Art School. Since its creation, the National Ballet of Cuba has based its work on respect for the romantic and classical tradition, as well as encouraging choreographers' creativity in their search for a national and contemporary style.

Under Alicia Alonso the BNC maintains in its active repertoire great romantic and classical works from the 19th century as well as neoromantic and modern works, within contemporary ballet's different choreographic styles.

Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La fille mal gardé, Nutcracker Suite and Don Quixote are some of the company's great classics and are versions conserved and recreated by Alicia Alonso. The BNC's director has taken her version of Giselle to the Paris and Vienna Operas and the San Carlo Theater in Naples, while Sleeping Beauty was incorporated into the Milan Scala's repertoire.

The dance company experienced a rapid growth after the triumph of the Revolution, enriching its repertoire and promoting the development of new dancers, choreographers, teachers and creators and other dance-related genres such as visual arts and music.

As the highest expression of the Cuban school of ballet, the company carries out intensive work in the country, where it has been able to project its art on a popular level. Moreover, every year it increases its program of international tours through Europe, Asia and the Americas.

In addition to the acclaim of the most outstanding specialized critics and the distinctions won by its dancers, individually, at international contests and festivals, the National Ballet of Cuba has received important awards such as the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris and the Republic of Cuba's Félix Varela Order.

(Taken from: Cubasí)