La Huella de España Festival

Havana, June 8 (RHC)-- The 30th edition of the La Huella de España Festival will be held in this capital from June 12 to 16, dedicated to the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, its organizers informed today.

Chaired by prima ballerina Viengsay Valdes, director of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), the event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of the Caribbean island, the Embassy of Spain in Havana and the Federation of Spanish Societies.

At a press conference, the director of the Ballet said that the event is a tribute to the Spanish presence in Cuba and recalls the roots of the Caribbean nation.

She said the event is already a tradition for the company, which also celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding with the rescue of its extensive repertoire, of which many of the works to be presented are part of that legacy.

He highlighted the participation of the Foundation and the Antonio Gades Company, which have been working very rigorously on the details of the staging of the Bodas de Sangre ballet, which will unite Cuban and Spanish dancers on stage.

It is about rescuing a jewel that already existed, but that we must bring to excellence, he said in reference to this choreography of the famous Spanish dancer from the work of the same name by Federico Garcia Lorca, which will be on Tuesday at the Marti Theater in Havana.

For his part, Spanish Ambassador to Havana Angel Martin Peccis, thanked the Cuban authorities for having maintained the Festival for more than 30 years. It is important for Spain, because Cuba is important for Spain," he stressed.

The diplomat underscored the relevance of the ties between both countries beyond possible differences. In this sense, he commented that the Antillean nation is a dwelling of brothers, of a shared history.

This year, the Festival proposes a broad program that starts next Monday with a parade in which many of the participants will join, from Madera Street to the Havana Amphitheater, where the opening ceremony will take place.

The gala will feature musicians and dance groups from Cuba, such as the Sociedad Castellana de Beneficencia and Agrupación de Sociedades Castellanas, the Compañía de Danzas Tradicionales JJ and the Ballet Español de Cuba.

Dancers from the BNC and the Antonio Gades Company will also perform excerpts from the ballet Carmen.

On June 13, the José Nicolás de Escalera Gallery at the San Gerónimo University College in Havana will host the opening of the photographic exhibition "30 years of La Huella de España Festival" and the screening of the documentary "Antonio Gades, a legacy for the 21st century" at the institution's movie theater.