Cuban Ballet Endures Amidst Daily Hardships

HAVANA -- Daily life in Cuba is frequently interrupted by persistent blackouts, with some neighborhoods experiencing prolonged periods without electricity or running water. Transportation is scarce, and essential food items like eggs, bread, and cooking oil are difficult to find. Yet, each morning, approximately 178 students arrive at the National Ballet School in Havana for rigorous training.

Located in an Art Nouveau building in Old Havana, the school integrates intensive dance instruction with academic subjects including math, Spanish, history, and science. For 14-year-old Roxana Pérez de La Mora, this means an early start and a 12-mile journey to the school. "Sometimes I tell my mom I don’t feel like going, but missing it could cause problems for me later in training," she said. "I’ve always said that my dream is to be a prima ballerina."

Classical ballet is a celebrated art form in Cuba, enjoying a popularity that rivals that of baseball. The country has a rich history of producing internationally acclaimed dancers and choreographers, fostering a knowledgeable and engaged audience. The Cuban National Ballet, established in the 1940s by Alicia and Fernando Alonso, is regarded as one of the world's most esteemed companies. Ticket prices remain accessible, with performances costing less than $1, a stark contrast to prices that can reach $300 in other countries.

In August, the company presented “Canto Vital,” choreographed by Azari Plisetski with music by Gustav Mahler, featuring principal dancer Dani Hernández, who also directs the National Ballet School. Despite fuel shortages that emptied streets, the Avellaneda Hall at the National Theatre of Cuba was filled with attendees who gave the performance a standing ovation.

Graduates from the National Ballet School have gone on to secure principal roles in leading international companies such as the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, and American Ballet Theatre in New York. Hernández himself commutes daily on an electric motorcycle, a necessary risk for a dancer whose career depends on avoiding injury. He recounted facing challenges during recent blackouts, where heat and mosquitoes made sleeping difficult, yet he remained committed to his training.

Hernández expressed concern that the country's ongoing crises could adversely affect the development of future generations of artists. "The entire situation we’re experiencing today could affect a generation of students training in ballet, dance, music, the visual arts," he told The Associated Press. "And it’s been the same for all other fields: engineering, medicine, education, everything else."

Despite these challenges, classical ballet continues to be a source of national pride, maintaining international standards and a broad appeal throughout Cuban society. "It’s one of those things where you go out on the street and say, ‘Hey, I saw the ballet,’ and everyone starts talking to you about ballet,” Hernández noted.