Stars from Important Companies to Ballet Festival

The International Ballet Festival of Havana will turn 50 years old in 2010 in the company of stars from the most important international companies, and with Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso at the center of tributes.

Sources from the organizing committee said top figures from the Royal Ballet of London, the English National Ballet, the Scala de Milan, the Colon Theater of Argentina, and others will perform on the island from October 28 to November 7.

Also attending will be figures from the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theater, where Alonso improved her training and became established as an internationally renowned figure, along with making artistic contributions.

The 22nd edition of the festival coincides with the Year of Alicia Alonso, established by the Cuban Culture Ministry to mark the 90th birthday of the director of the National Ballet of Cuba.

Apart from its main headquarters at Havana's Gran Teatro, the festival's venues include the Karl Marx, Lazaro Pena, and Mella theatres.