Havana, September 9 (RHC) – The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, had words of praise for the strong art shown by Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba (LADC) after visiting the company’s headquarters Sunday.

The head of the European diplomacy also highlighted the benefits of practicing dance for life. Mogherini practiced the art form years ago and, watching the young Cuban ensemble perform, she said she recognized powerful qualities which, in her words, should be life lessons, including team work. ‘All contribute, no matter the category and, also the capacity to make complex work be seen easy and natural,’ the European representative highlighted. Mogherini was thrilled with the energy and enjoyment exhibited by LADC dancers at scenes of one of the ensemble’s greatest hits -Fuerza y Compás (Strength and Rhythm) -, a show which deals with the syncretism of Spanish and African roots in Cuban culture.

For her part, Alfonso explained that she devotes herself to developing the fusion style, a mix of ballet, contemporary dance, folklore, Spanish dances and other forms of movement with which her troupe has been very successful in many stages worldwide. Alfonso established the company 28 years ago.

Along with an extensive EU delegation, Mogherini also enjoyed the performance of children and teenagers of the LADC vocational workshops and Children’s and Youth’s Ballet in choreographic pieces, such as Aferrados, to a score by Tchaikosvki, Beethoven, Rimski Korsakov and other classics. ‘You’ve been wonderful, fantastic,’ said the top European diplomat, who arrived in the dance company headquarters, following a tour of the Cuban Arts University (ISA), as well as of different cultural institutions in the Old Section of Havana, a city marking its 500th anniversary in October. Mogherini is currently presiding over the EU-Cuba Joint Council, in which different bilateral cooperation programs are being discussed, including some in the cultural sphere.