Ballet Beyond Borders (BBB) began its second edition in Havana on January 7. The first of its actions was a master class given by the U.S. choreographer Vince Paterson, holder of a long career with notable success in the pop industry, where he created iconic choreographies for figures such as Michael Jackson and Madonna. For the classic Thriller by the King of Pop, Paterson was a choreography assistant and one of the zombies in the video clip that revolutionized promotional audiovisuals for music; that experience was shared in this initial meeting.
Although BBB captured much of the attention with this bait, the event organized by the Cuban company Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba (LADC) and the U.S. Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, had its official opening in the Avellaneda Hall of the National Theater with fragments of the show Habana Fénix.
The competitions began on Wednesday the 8th, the real highlight of the event, which with its concept of not jumping borders, has been held in Montana, Los Angeles, Pakistan, China, Italy and the Cuban capital.
Charlene Carey, founder of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and BBB, said in a meeting with the press on the morning of the opening day that “what happens on stage is incredible, but the magic of Ballet Beyond Borders is outside, what happens among the dancers.”
The experience in Cuba at the beginning of 2024 further fueled that idea, which is why the event is returning to Havana.
“Wherever we go, it is always impressive, but the people who came with us left here very happy. It is incredible what it has caused in the dancers, in the friendships we have brought, so much so that those who came on that occasion, if they could not return, this time send new people to live the experience. Most of the things we take with us is the culture that you have created in this beautiful country,” said Charlene.
Through figures such as Caridad Martínez, Dany Hernández, Grettel Morejón or Jorge Barani, Cuba has always had some presence in Ballet Beyond Borders. Still, Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba made it possible for this great multinational meeting and competition to have the island as one of its venues.
The unstoppable choreographer and director then begins work for 2025 with BBB, and in the hustle and bustle of an event with more than 160 national participants and more than 150 foreigners, she pauses to talk to OnCuba.
Did you think Ballet Beyond Borders would reach a second edition in Cuba?
Not at all. At a certain point, Charlene Carey invited me to be part of the jury of Ballet Beyond Borders. And being there seeing everything, in Montana, in that cold, in that snow, I, in a joking way, told her: “Next January we are going to do it in Havana.” She turned to me and said: “In Havana?” And I tell her: yes, in Havana. That is how BBB arrived here in January 2024, and it was so well received by all the people in the world of dance in Cuba that we both decided to go to the second round.
We are happy about it, and this time we are also going to take it to Cienfuegos. The closing gala will first be held in the Avellaneda Hall of the National Theater of Cuba and then in the Terry Theater in Cienfuegos.
What other differences would you highlight between the last edition and this one?
Between the first time we held the event in 2024 and this one, which has only been a year, the number of participants increased, the diversity increased; that is, there are participants from practically all over the country and from all dance styles: ballet, Spanish dances, popular Cuban dances, Afro-Cuban dances and fusion dance.
It is very nice that they can compete in all these specialties, in addition to the young choreographer category, that is, young people under 30, who want to be choreographers.
For me, the fact that the world is looking at them through this event is one of the most important things, because Ballet Beyond Borders could place some young people who have performed at its event in different world-class companies.
If we Cubans are placed, practically alone, in the different companies of the world, let it continue to happen, and not only in the companies of the classical and contemporary world but in many others.
International participation has also grown…
This year, the presence of Africa is very strong, and this caught my attention, countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe are participating. Also, Italy, Canada, the United States, Pakistan, Mexico, really many. Not only the dancers come, but also the teachers, the choreographers and, on the other hand, the personalities, who, let’s say, are like the columns that support this event.
All the teachers who have come from different countries come with that wisdom, to leave us the gift of their knowledge; that puts light years ahead of anyone who receives it.
Is that diversity of nations also on the jury for this edition of BBB?
The jury is very diverse. There are many Cubans and all these same personalities are also jurors in each type of competition and that also gives a lot of credibility to the event.
For example, when my dancers, the dancers from my company, or the dancers from my school compete, I leave the jury and another person enters so that it is totally impartial.
I have been in many types of competitions and others the jury is more focused on the result. That is another thing that I like about the BBB juries. I have had the opportunity to work with them on several occasions in the United States and here, and they see the talent behind the child, behind the dancer who is being trained and from there they propose a series of actions that can be taken to make them become a better dancer and also a better person.
What is the greatest contribution that an event like Ballet Beyond Borders makes to the context of current Cuban dance?
The concept. That idea of ballet beyond borders. They have managed to create a large family around the world that grows every day, every day it has more friends in all places and also in countries as different as Cuba, Pakistan, China, the United States; and they are all united by dance.
That is a blessing and for us, as Cubans, as a country, what it contributes the most is the concept that the family can be united no matter what, no matter what it thinks, because there is always a common goal which is to achieve the happiness of human beings. It is about well-being, happiness, and personal fulfillment so that there is also collective fulfillment.
