The Ballet Schools Meeting will bring together more than 200 participants from thirteen countries in Cuba

Havana, March 7 (EFE). – Ballet education will attract the attention of more than 200 teachers, students and dancers from thirteen countries who will gather at the 29th International Meeting of the Academies of this Dance Form in Havana from 22 to 30 March.

The director of the National Center for Arts Schools in Cuba, Elizabeth Castro Rodriguez, said Thursday at a press conference that representatives of 70 academies from American and European countries are scheduled to attend.

He explained that so far, 225 participants from El Salvador, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Dominican Republic, the United States, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands and Mexico have confirmed their attendance.

Vice President of the Organizing Committee, Martha Iris Fernandez Aguero, confirmed that the meeting aims to consolidate the methodology of ballet education and promote the development of dance through exchange with academies from different countries and stimulate the creative display of children and youth.

The program of the initiative includes classes, conferences, workshops and courses for teachers as well as competitions in the categories of children, youth and choreography, of which the jury will be the dancer and director of the BNC, Fengsay Valdés, and Liszt Alfonso, the leader of Liszt. Alfonso Cuba Dance Company.

The meeting will be dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of choreographer Fernando Alonso (1914-2013), one of the founders of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), as well as founder and director of the National Ballet School (1962-1968).

Fernandez also explained that the event bears the characteristics that Fernando Alonso tried to instill in his students, who currently form part of the current generation of Cuban teachers.

Founded by legendary dancer Alicia Alonso with brothers Fernando and Alberto Alonso, the Cuban Ballet School has established a chair in style and teaching in ballet and has been internationally recognized for its character and specific characteristics.