Havana ballet fest to feature acclaimed U.S. dancers

Stars from several U.S. dance companies will take part in a gala performance at the upcoming Havana International Ballet Festival, organizers said on Wednesday.

Called "Stars of American Ballet," the show will feature acclaimed members of the New York City Ballet (NYCB) and other major U.S. companies on two nights, Oct. 29 and 30, at Havana's Mella Theater.

Among the featured dancers are Daniel Ulbricht, Teresa Reichlen, Ask la Cour, Sterling Hyltin, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Indiana Woodward and Gonzalo Garcia, all from the NYCB.

Cuban audiences will also be treated to the art of ballroom dancing with performances by the award-winning Ukraine-born U.S. residents Antonina Skobina and Denys Drozdyuk.

Most of the choreography in the program is made by renowned authors, such as George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon and Alexei Ratmansky.

The 26th edition of the festival, named in honor of Cuban dancer-choreographer Alicia Alonso, will open on Oct. 28 and run through Nov. 6, with the participation of dancers and companies from numerous countries.

This edition also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of Cuba's National Ballet (NBC), whose history is closely linked to the history of ballet in the United States.

Before creating her own company in 1948, Alonso, Cuba's prima ballerina assoluta, attended the School of American Ballet. She made her U.S. debut in the musical comedies "Great Lady" and "Stars in Your Eyes," and became the first star of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in 1946. Her company went on to become Cuba's National Ballet in 1955.