Minkus Don Quixote

Ludwig Minkus (1826-1917) Don Quixote. From the original version by Marius Petipa & Alexandre Gorsky

If there is one country in the world where classical ballet is still an art form for the people and by the people, it is Cuba.

A veritable artistic miracle, the Cuban National Ballet was born of the unshakable will of a heroic woman: Alicia Alonso.

"Madame" Alicia created this improbable ballet company in 1948, and sixty years later, the octogenarian 'prima ballerina' who's sight started to fail at 20 years old but who continued to dance, is still the director.

It took courage and a crazy vision to impose in the Caribbean, and in this country of salsa and Latin rhythms, such a very European choreographic tradition founded on a structure and a musical repertoire completely opposed to those of Cuba.

But Alicia Alonso is a tenacious warrior who quickly shared her passion with all the Cuban people.