Alicia Alonso, in her own homeland and her own art

All who love dance in Cuba, all who live for the dance, all who work for the dance…have a debt of gratitude with Alicia Alonso. She is the acme of Cuba’s performing arts. And not only because of her extraordinary creative journey, but also because of her legacy. Alicia did an amazing job, and paved the way for the future.

Every December 21st, when we celebrate another birth anniversary of the Cuban dancer, the company she founded and led for decades, the National Ballet of Cuba, pays tribute to her. But that is the one-off tribute. Her legacy, built on talent and the energy she put on to realize her dreams along with other artists: the ballet school of Cuba, is honored every day.

Alicia Alonso did not work in vain. Many of the achievements of Cuban culture have her image. She made Cuba proud. She used to repeat over and over a phrase: art has no homeland, but the artist does. Cuba and its art became her homeland.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff