In Cuba today, the National Ballet of Cuba was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation, according to Cubadebate. The declaration was signed by Cuba’s Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto, who honors the long history of the dance troupe and the prestige it has gained on stages around the world.
The document recognizes the National Ballet of Cuba as “the ultimate expression of the Cuban school of ballet, which has achieved its own physiognomy where the tradition of theatrical dance merges with the essential features of the National Culture.”
Founded in 1948 by maestro Fernando Alonso and Alicia Alonso, the company has been, since its inception, the benchmark for classical dance on the island, and after seven decades of uninterrupted work is today one of the most prestigious of its kind in the world.
From its ranks came several of the most prestigious figures of ballet, including the so-called four jewels: Loipa Araujo, Mirta Plá, Josefina Méndez, and Aurora Bosch. Among the men, Alberto Alonso, Alberto Méndez, and Carlos Acosta stand out, among others.
However, undoubtedly, the maximum figure of the National Ballet of Cuba is the prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso, considered to be one of the greatest dancers of all time.
[Excerpts above translated by Ivette Romero. For full article (in Spanish), see http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2018/07/05/el-ballet-nacional-de-cuba-es-declarado-patrimonio-cultural-de-la-nacion/#.Wz6wbdJKg2w.]