00:00On the other topics, 2026 has been a year of constant economic aggression against Cuba.
00:05Even so, art on the island does not stop and has become a space of resistance.
00:10The Laura Alonso Ballet Company presented its gala concert at Havana's National Theatre
00:16and our correspondent Belén de los Santos brings us the details.
00:21The doors of the National Theatre are open.
00:24This, too, is Cuba in 2026.
00:26In the midst of one of the greatest forms of economic aggressions that a people can face,
00:32the young dancers of the Laura Alonso Ballet Company give their all in every piece
00:36to dazzle an audience that follows them with great emotion.
00:41I love ballet. I love all the arts, but ballet specifically is the greatest thing for me.
00:46For us, ballet is not just about going to the theater and watching people move.
00:51It is a way for us, as dancers, to express ourselves and for people to understand the stories,
00:58the words being told.
00:59It also reflects our own sacrifice, the technical work we put in.
01:04It's not just about watching people dance.
01:06There is a much deeper feeling behind it.
01:09From Giselle and Swan Lake to contemporary pieces, the gala concert features excerpts from classic ballet repertoire
01:16in the style of the Cuban school, one of the most internationally recognized in the world.
01:22Today's performance was truly moving.
01:24The way the audience receives us, it's as if what we truly feel in our hearts reaches them
01:29and we dance with even more drive, with even more enthusiasm.
01:35There are simply no words to explain it.
01:37After all, the work we put in to make this happen, we feel so fulfilled that we cannot even put
01:41it into words.
01:44Laura Alonso was a principal soloist with the National Ballet for decades.
01:49For the past 38 years, she has directed the Pro Danza Center,
01:52supporting the training of new generations of dancers.
01:56Today, that work takes on renewed importance.
02:01For Cubans, it is a breath of fresh air, a chance to forget their problems,
02:08to let their minds unwind into art.
02:13People come here, you see?
02:15How can I explain it?
02:16Maybe transportation is a bit of an issue.
02:19It can be a little difficult to get here.
02:21But it doesn't matter.
02:22You'll find a way.
02:23And you come, hell or high water, you come.
02:28In this way, art becomes a space to catch one's breath,
02:32a refuge from the United States' economic war and its impact on everyday life.
02:37At least for a little while, the island's love of dance is what takes center stage.
02:41Despite the difficulties, we have always kept working, even during national blackouts.
02:47With all the problems we face, we keep showing our art to the public.
02:51And we hope it brings a little joy into their lives.
02:54And that, for a moment, they can forget their problems.
03:00I am one of those who believe that when you step on the stage, you have to forget everything.
03:04All the problems at home, personal problems, family problems, everything.
03:07It's just you and your work.
03:20The Royal Ballet Company of England performed throughout the German bombings.
03:26They kept giving performances.
03:32The Ballet of the former Leningrad performed under the siege of Leningrad.
03:42That is an artist's mission, to dance, to lift the spirits of their people.
03:46That is an artist's mission, to animate their people.
03:52Belinda Los Santos, Forteira Sur English, from Havana, Cuba.
