Russian dancer Vladimir Vasiliev will be honored on Tuesday in Havana for his 70th birthday, at a gala hosted by the National Ballet of Cuba and its director, Alicia Alonso.
Vasiliev, a legendary figure of the Bolshoi Ballet, will enjoy his tribute along with prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso in the royal box of the Garcia Lorca Hall; it is the same place where, on October 31, 1980, they perfomed Gisselle during the seventh edition of the Havana Ballet Festival.
With this piece, an Alonso version of the original by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, the Cuban principal dancers Viengsay Valdes, Elier Bourzac, Anette Delgado and Javier Torres will pay tribute to the two great figures.
Vasiliev has also traveled to Havana to honor Alonso for her 90th birthday. On Saturday, he awarded her with the distinction of the Galina Ulanova Foundation, over which he presides, and gave her a painting by him, inspired by the performance of Gisselle in which they both starred.
On Tuesday, the sixth day of the Havana Ballet Festival features four premiers of the New York City Ballet, which debuted on Monday in Havana Mella Theater with eight of its principal dancers.