Cuba commemorates 69th anniversary of the FEU's act of redress to Alicia Alonso

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 16 (ACN) With an emotional ceremony held on Monday at the Juan Abrantes Stadium of the University of Havana, the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC) commemorated the strong commitment that unites the company with the University Student Federation (FEU), 69 years after the organization's act of redress dedicated to Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso and the then Ballet de Cuba.

According to a statement sent to the Cuban News Agency by the prestigious dance institution, on September 15, 1956, Alicia danced "The Dying Swan" and announced her decision to no longer appear on stage in Cuba while the Fulgencio Batista regime remained in power.

After 69 years, faithful to tradition and honoring its history, the BNC, led by its general director and prima ballerina, Viengsay Valdes, attended the meeting with university students to celebrate what Alicia Alonso defined as "a happy marriage" between the company and the FEU, as recalled by Historian PhD. Miguel Cabrera.

The commemorative event was also an opportune moment to recall the figure of Fructuoso Rodriguez, a student leader who served as interim president of the FEU in 1956 and who worked to promote the organization's support for the young classical ballet company.

Thalía Morell Garcia, a member of the organization's National Secretariat, recalled the circumstances under which that act of redress was held and the continued validity of the values ​​shared by both entities. "We are united by the ongoing battle in defense of Cuban culture," the young student summarized.

For his part, Cabrera recalled more than six decades of strong ties, as well as the symbolism of a bouquet of red roses that the student organization presented to Alicia Alonso for the last time in 2019 and now presents to prima ballerina Viengsay Valdes, a testament to the unbreakable bonds that unite the vigor of the Cuban student body with the strength and determination of Cuban ballet.

A stimulating moment of the commemoration was provided by Joan Manuel Riera and Greisell Lastre, students of the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School. They recently won the gold medal in the classical pas de deux category at the 12th South African International Ballet Competition. This time, they performed the piece "Tacto."