Havana, September 12 (RHC) – Havana’s Grand Theater Alicia Alonso reopened its doors on Thursday, September 12, with a story of love, deceit and betrayal, a world dance classic: Giselle by the Cuban National Ballet. The company, which has been proclaimed a Cultural Heritage of the Cuban Nation, is responsible for the reopening of the Prado and San Rafael Coliseum, following several months of repair.
Dancers playing the role of Myrtha, Queen of the Willis, include Ginett Moncho, Claudia García, Ely Regina and Chavera Riera. Ernesto Díaz is playing the role of Hilarion, the forest ranger and the premier dancers, principals, first soloists and soloists are being accompanied by the famous Cuban company’s corps de ballet. .
Giselle, choreographed by Alicia Alonso after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with a script by Théophile Gautier, Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean Coralli, is inspired by a Germanic folk legend collected by Heinrich Heine. The music is by Adolphe Adam and the designs by Cuban designer Salvador Fernández. Giselle, which has been in the repertoire of the National Ballet of Cuba for many years, is very important because with the work and Alicia Alonso as its exceptional interpreter, Cuba transcends for the first time on the international dance scene.
The choreographic version of Giselle made by Alicia Alonso has been incorporated into the repertoire of prestigious international dance groups. Standing out among them are the Teatro Colón Ballet of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1958; the Greek Theater of Los Angeles, California, in the United States, in 1958; the Paris Opera Ballet in France in 1972; Ballet del Teatro de Bellas Artes de Mexico in 1976; the Vienna State Opera Ballet in 1980; the San Carlo Theater Ballet in Naples, Italy, in 1981; and the Slovak National Theater Ballet in 1989.In 1966 Alicia Alonso received the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris at the 4th International Dance Festival held at the Champs Elysees Theater for her choreographic version and personal performance of the ballet.
After these presentations in Havana, the company will travel to Mexico where it is scheduled to present the same program at the National Auditorium of Mexico City, in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Aguacalientes.
