Ballet Nacional De Cuba To Perform At Qpac

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE OF ALICIA ALONSO'S ACCLAIMED PRODUCTION OF DON QUIXOTE
www.qpac.com.au


Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Queensland Events in association with Brisbane Festival present

BALLET NACIONAL DE CUBA

Australian premiere of Alicia Alonso's acclaimed production of DON QUIXOTE

Ballet in three acts
Music by Ludwig Minkus
Choreography by Alicia Alonso
with the collaboration of Marta Garcia and Maria Elena Llorente
after the original version by Marius Petipa and Alexandre Gorsky
Exclusive Australian Season

Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Lyric Theatre
24 September 3 October 2010

"Thanks to Alonso Cubans have become stars around the world" UK Times Online 2010

"Ballet Nacional de Cuba to die for" UK Express Online 2010


The international ballet sensation, the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (National Ballet of Cuba) will bring its exuberant and sensual style of classical ballet to Australia for an exclusive Brisbane season from 24 September to 3 October at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

Ballet Nacional de Cuba will showcase their dazzling technique, passion and unique Latin exuberance in the Australian premiere of their fi ery Cuban take on the great three-act classic Don Quixote.

Over the past decade, Ballet Nacional de Cuba has risen to the very front rank of international dance companies. Their touring schedule has included triumphant appearances in London, Washington, Paris, Beijing, Athens, New York and Tokyo the company has toured in more than 58 countries, drawing from their vast repertory of both the classics and modern ballets.

The Ballet Nacional de Cuba presentation follows the sell out season by The Paris Opera Ballet in June last year, which was also an exclusive to Brisbane and a partnership between QPAC and the Queensland Government, through Queensland Events. The season will be presented in association with Brisbane Festival.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said that the visit by the extraordinary Ballet Nacional de Cuba was part of QPAC's commitment to presenting a program of unique national and international dance for Australian audiences.

"Australians love dance, both to watch and to participate. It is an incredibly accessible art form which can be appreciated by afi cionados and novices alike and has the ability to evoke strong emotional responses.

"The countries regularly thought of as foremost in the world of classical dance are Russia, France and America. In recent years, Cuba has made its way to the world stage through the increasingly acclaimed Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Like Australians, Cubans love to dance. For an island of just 11 million people, they've produced a remarkable number of sensational dancers.

"For many years these amazing dancers could only be seen in Cuba, but over the past few years the company has travelled widely and with each tour its reputation has grown.

"Described as utterly distinctive, Cuba's national ballet company, while remaining culturally isolated, boasts world class dancers. The dancers combine a Russian-style classical training with Latin fl air and are in demand the world over.

"Don Quixote is one of the most famous ballets in the world. It is the ballet for which this company Don Quixote is one of the most famous ballets in the world. It is the ballet for which this company Don Quixote is the most renowned and is a well-loved story of idealism, and the continual quest for chivalry. I am confi dent that Australian audiences are going to be blown away by the energy, talent, passion and sheer joy for dance that emanates from this company," said Kotzas.

"We are also pleased to extend a special price for dance schools and school groups to enable as many young people as possible to experience this dance company," he said.

Queensland Events CEO John O'Sullivan said "The Ballet Nacional de Cuba is a natural extension to the hugely successful partnership with QPAC that we established in 2009 in staging The Paris Opera Ballet.

"Queensland has great arts facilities and we are keen to further develop our interests in this area," said Mr O'Sullivan.

The Ballet Nacional de Cuba was founded in 1948 by Alicia Alonso. Prima Ballerina Assoluta and Artistic Director of the Company, Alonso is one of the most signifi cant personalities in the history of dance and is the most celebrated fi gure in Latin American ballet.

Choreographed by Alonso, and based on the original by Marius Petipa, this Cuban version of Don Quixote has been acclaimed by worldwide critics and by the public, due to the serious and Don Quixote has been acclaimed by worldwide critics and by the public, due to the serious and Don Quixote dignifi ed treatment given to the title character.

"Brilliant dancers seem to be the norm in the Ballet Nacional de Cuba which regularly produces international stars" New York Times 2003

"The Ballet Nacional de Cuba combines rigour with exuberant gusto: sharp footwork, soaring jumps, energy to burn" UK The Independent 2010

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Friday 24 September 7.30pm
GALA OPENING NIGHT
Saturday 25 September 1.30pm
Saturday 25 September 7.30pm
Sunday 26 September 3.00pm
Wednesday 29 September 1.30pm
Wednesday 29 September 7.30pm
Thursday 30 September 7.30pm
Friday 1 October 7.30pm
Saturday 2 October 1.30pm
Saturday 2 October 7.30pm
Sunday 3 October 3.00pm

Tickets for Ballet Nacional de Cuba on sale Tuesday 27 April.

Bookings
www.qpac.com.au
136 246


For further media enquiries only

QPAC Cindy Ullrich, Publicity Manager
(07) 3840 7589 or 0434 366 038
[email protected]

Bruce Pollack, Pollack Consulting
(02) 9331 5276 or 0418 331 527
[email protected]

The Ballet Nacional de Cuba is presented in partnership with QPAC and the Queensland Government, through Queensland Events.

SOURCE: Ballet Nacional de Cuba