CubaPLUS Magazine

The 30th International Meeting of Ballet Teaching Academies is being held in Cuba from this Friday through April 20, with over 300 participants from 30 schools and 12 countries. The official opening will be tomorrow, April 12, at 2:00 p.m. local time, and an artistic parade of participants will take place along Havana's Paseo del Prado, from the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater of Havana to the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School (ENB), the meeting venue.

Among the nations represented are Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, among others. Joseph Gatti, Artistic Director of the United Ballet Theater & Academy (United States), will be the Main Guest Artist and will serve as a judge for the international competition.

The academic program includes theoretical courses, practical workshops, and specialized training for teachers. The International Competition for Ballet Students will be a key component. A highlight will be the meeting with international institutions that apply the Cuban teaching method. This thirtieth edition pays tribute to teacher Ramona de Saá Bello, a cornerstone of the development of ballet teaching in Cuba, and to filmmaker Alfredo Guevara, a prominent Cuban intellectual who influenced the advancement and promotion of national cinematography.

Exchanges between teachers, students, critics, and ballet specialists about national and international styles and methodologies characterize the event's program of activities. This will include performances at the ENB, the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theater of Cuba, and the Yara cinema in the Cuban capital.

As part of the event, the International Ballet Competition will take place in Havana from April 14 to 18, and the competition jury will be composed of prestigious figures from the world of dance. (From Prensa Latina)