Cuban dancer and director Carlos Acosta highlighted the extraordinary legacy of Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso, who died on 18 October 2019 at 98.
“In these moments I cannot stop thinking about everything we owe her, what she has left us, in addition to the pain for her death, for all that she created, for all that she gave us, for being the main foundation of a ballet school that has given so much glory to our country”, Acosta said upon hearing the news.
“As the daughter of a small Caribbean island, Alonso confronted all the barriers, those who said ballet was an art of developed countries, that the Latino physique and temperament could not adjust to the needs of classical dance,” he said.
Likewise, the director of Acosta Danza pointed out the ability of Alonso to face all prejudices and impose her name on the international scene.
“Her struggle to be recognized opened the doors of classical ballet for all the young people of our continent who dreamed of dancing and put the name of Cuba on the billboards of the great international stages, said the choreographer.
He also recalled the joy of dancing with Alonso on one occasion, as well as the privilege of dancing for her in rehearsals of The Spectrum of the Rose, by Michel Fokine.
“It was an unforgettable experience because, among the corrections, Alicia told us anecdotes about the choreographer. That day I was dazzled by her knowledge and her memory, by the memory of those distant stories that when she told them they became so close”, the dancer evoked.
“Alonso symbolizes the root of our dance movement, along with the artists of Cuba, I will continue working to keep our country growing, I think that is the best way to honour her name”, Acosta concluded.
Original report in spanish by Cubasi.cu here
“Alicia Alonso has gone and left an enormous void, but also an unbeatable legacy,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in a post on Twitter. “She positioned Cuba at the altar of the best of dance worldwide. Thank you Alicia for your immortal work.”
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