{"id":328840,"date":"2025-09-25T10:00:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T14:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=328840"},"modified":"2025-09-25T05:00:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T09:00:47","slug":"claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera (Havana, 1996) returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist. As if that weren\u2019t enough, at almost 29 years old, this young Havana native \u2014 who was born and raised in Centro Habana \u2014 can boast a decade of professional life dedicated to classical dance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the former principal dancer of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC) \u2014 she joined the company in 2015 \u2014 returning to the island every summer for the past three years is an opportunity to reconnect with her most cherished hugs and enjoy summer experiences alongside family love. It\u2019s also an excuse to visit the headquarters of the company that saw her develop as a dancer, take a few classes in its rooms and experience the everyday life within its walls.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in Budapest, Claudia Garc\u00eda is already preparing, in the rehearsal phase, for what\u2019s to come next season with the Hungarian State Opera. They will begin in September with performances in Dubai, before returning to the Opera House, an institution that blends opera theater, ballet and the opera house\u2019s orchestra.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything indicates that it will be an intense season, in which the Hungarian company will stage around 40 ballets, including works from the classical and modern repertoire, as well as contemporary choreographies. They will arrive with a revival of <\/span>Onegin<\/span><\/i> and versions of great classics such as <\/span>The Sleeping Beauty<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Swan Lake<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>The Nutcracker<\/span><\/i>, as well as works by Ji\u0159\u00ed Kyli\u00e1n and Alexander Ekman.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ensemble to which Garc\u00eda belongs is the only classical ballet company in the Central European nation. Cuban audiences recognized her talent and enjoyed her in key roles from the classical repertoire, in Cuban versions such as Odette\/Odile, Swanilda and Kitri. With her experience, she knew that joining a new company meant a new beginning in her career and that she would have to win over a new audience. It was time to start from scratch. \u201cI had to greatly improve the appearance of my body, my figure. One didn\u2019t think about it, but when you meet a Russian or a Ukrainian in the same company, you realize they have different body types and different ways of moving. So I had to study how my arms could look longer, how I could \u201cfine-tune\u201d my Latina body. That was hard work: integrating and aligning with different body types, fitting into those patterns without losing my essence. Of course, I defend the pass\u00e9 alto of my Cuban ballet school,\u201d Claudia Garc\u00eda tells <\/span>OnCuba<\/span><\/b> one hot afternoon, sitting in the shade at the headquarters of the National Ballet of Cuba.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From Havana to Budapest, with ballet as her guide<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After midday, Claudia Garc\u00eda appears absorbed, watching a rehearsal by Anette Delgado and Grettel Morej\u00f3n in the white room of the National Ballet of Cuba, located on the ground floor of the institution. Both leading figures are rehearsing the role of Kitri, which they assumed during a season of performances the company offered in early August at the National Theater of Cuba.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Garc\u00eda, seeing that scene reminds her of her early days with the Cuban company, back in 2015. She recalls the enthusiasm of the first day: \u201cthe feeling of entering a haunted house, that kind of place where you feel the energy, a house that carries all the tradition of Cuban ballet. Everyone has been here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From her time as a student, she remembers watching ballet videos provided by her friend, journalist Marta S\u00e1nchez. Claudia watched the images and wanted to be like Rosario Su\u00e1rez \u201cChar\u00edn,\u201d Ofelia Gonz\u00e1lez or Svetlana Zaj\u00e1rova. She tried to draw inspiration from everywhere; she confesses that she never missed a season of the BNC and was amazed to see <\/span>Viengsay Vald\u00e9s<\/span><\/b><\/a>, Anette Delgado, Sadaise Arencibia and Yolanda Correa on stage. \u201cI wanted to be part of the National Ballet of Cuba. I didn\u2019t know if I would become a soloist or a principal dancer. I saw all those great dancers, and even though I was last in line, I wanted to be there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the demands of the path, the young dancer never felt pressured. \u201cGive your best, do the best you can, but don\u2019t compare yourself to anyone,\u201d was one of the things her mother told her. Her support has been fundamental in her professional development. \u201cThat\u2019s why I think I was never afraid of doing something wrong, of making mistakes. She always supported me, even now.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor example,\u201d the artist explains, \u201cthere were times when my friends started to take other paths; they left the company, and my mom never pressured me to leave. On the contrary, she was proud that I was still here, because she loves seeing me on stage. When the opportunity arose for me to move to Hungary, it was a very difficult decision to make, because neither of us imagined that moment would ever come. We had to face it. She\u2019s already seen me dance in Budapest and dreams of seeing me dance here again. That moment will come; we\u2019ll make it known (she smiles).\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"With
With her mother. Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the last times she appeared on stage with the National Ballet of Cuba was as part of the company\u2019s original cast in the production of <\/span>Seventh Symphony<\/span><\/i>, by German composer Uwe Scholz (1958-2004). \u201cIt was a work completely different from the Cuban style. Since I already had a contract with the Hungarian State Opera, this ballet helped me prepare to change my mindset and my body for what was to come. Pieces like that have been very good experiences for the BNC, to try out new styles and choreographies.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn companies, large or small, there\u2019s a Cuban dancer. We\u2019re a community and we keep an eye on each other thanks to social media. You can see that everyone leaves a Cuban flag or some detail highlighting their origins on their feeds. I like the sense of collective care and admiration we have for each other. Every time I see a colleague succeeding in another country \u2014 look how well Patricio Rev\u00e9 is doing, for example \u2014 I share it so my followers can see it, so everyone knows that the Cuban school of ballet is still active and its fruits shine around the world. We are highly trained artists,\u201d she says proudly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At 29, Claudia, a graduate in dance from the Higher Institute of Art (ISA), enriches her knowledge and mastery of Cuban technique in a multicultural environment, where she blends with other styles and schools of classical dance. The pandemic, she emphasizes, was the catalyst that led her to decide to travel to Budapest. Three and a half years later, she is convinced that the decision she made was the right one, a certainty that the artist shares with <\/span>OnCuba<\/span><\/b> as she looks back to talk, ultimately, about practicing and enjoying an art form that has accompanied her throughout her life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why ballet?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

**I was a very shy girl and my mother looked for ways to get me out of that bubble. Then she saw the possibility of enrolling me in a Spanish ballet class \u2014 I was two and a half, almost three \u2014 and the teacher immediately told my mother that I was better suited for classical ballet, not flamenco. They then transferred me to the vocational workshop at the Prodanza Center, located in the Grand Theater of Havana, in the afternoons. The teacher agreed and said, \u201cLeave her here, but she has to lose weight.\u201d Those were the words, and they still stay with me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I continued in that vocational workshop until I reached the age to enter the Alejo Carpentier Elementary Ballet School, located on L and 19th Streets, Vedado. I spent my first five years with many teachers who influenced me, like the great Silvia Rodr\u00edguez. From there, I went to the National Ballet School, with teachers like Julia Berm\u00fadez and Elena Cangas, who also influenced my training, until I became part of the National Ballet of Cuba.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your relationship with ballet began when you were very young. At what point did your love for dance and your desire to learn it become something conscious that would determine your adult life?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes I question my choice of path, especially when I experience those days when I\u2019m filled with aches and pains all over my body. Of course, ballet became a part of my life. I remember my mom telling me, when I attended vocational workshops, that the day I didn\u2019t want to continue, I should tell her and we wouldn\u2019t go anymore. Sometimes I would say, \u201cMommy, I don\u2019t want to go,\u201d but after a while I would change my mind and we would go.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It becomes a way of life, even if it hurts: it\u2019s part of my \u201cbeautiful pain.\u201d Ballet became a kind of meditation for me, and it still is. When I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After 25 years, this art form is still my moment of peace. Sometimes I wake up in a bad mood, have my coffee, but after ballet class I\u2019m a different person.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you face your daily life as a dancer?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I confess that there are more days when my body doesn\u2019t cooperate than when it does, and the pain can be intense: even when you rehearse well, your body feels it the next day. I remember Alicia saying: \u201cBallet is a battle between the mind and the body. The body wants to win, but the mind has to be stronger and rise up.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I almost always wake up in pain. I have breakfast and go to class. Around 11:00 a.m. I start a full day of rehearsals. Sometimes, in the Hungarian Opera\u2019s work schedule, I have to be at the Opera House until 8:00 p.m. There are even times when I have rehearsals, a short break, and a performance in the evening. The next day you get up and repeat the same routine. It\u2019s very demanding and physically demanding. You must live for your body: what you eat, the water you drink, the amount of rest you can give it. Also, what you cultivate intellectually, what you read \u2014 all of this is important. All your knowledge is evident in your dancing, incredibly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I try to be active in cultural consumption: going to plays, exhibitions, concerts. Everything I consume will later nourish my performance. In Hungary, the culture is different; I try to establish points of comparison between Cuban and Hungarian culture. After all, I dance for the Hungarian audience, and they have to see themselves reflected in my performance. I\u2019m Cuban, and they realize it immediately, every time I go on stage. That idiosyncrasy is perceived even in the way I walk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are two of us Cubans established in the company currently, but the other dancer \u2014 Jessica Le\u00f3n Carulla, also a soloist with the Hungarian State Opera \u2014 has been here for about 15 years. I greatly respect the fact of dancing for an international audience and I try to bring the art to them without losing the essence of my Cuban school, because that\u2019s what characterizes me, what makes me different from so many people from other countries. The company includes dancers from Ukraine, Russia and Japan, for example.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Carrying out any profession in a multicultural environment would seem like a highly desirable goal for many people. Did you always think of such a dream for your work? How would you define the evolution of your professional dream?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That dream has taken a tremendous turn. I never thought I\u2019d leave the National Ballet of Cuba, but there came a time when the routine made me want to explore more, dance new repertoire, work with more choreographers. Ultimately, to test my worth in a place where no one knew me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m still living my dream, and now it\u2019s more than that. I think I\u2019ve gone further because I\u2019m pleased to be able to return to my home of the National Ballet of Cuba, watch the company\u2019s rehearsals, remember what my routine was like here and realize that the dream has changed for the better.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How does Hungary appear on your professional map?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It happened by chance. We were in the middle of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the BNC was shut down for almost a year. I remember taking ballet classes in my 2 m\u00b2 living room every day. I missed the stage so much, and then, one day, I received an invitation from the director of the Hungarian State Opera, with a contract as a soloist. Up until that moment, I confess, this company wasn\u2019t on my list of possibilities. It was a matter of embracing the adventure, and it was better than being at home, in that 2 m\u00b2 living room, taking my classes without conditions. Being stopped wasn\u2019t an option for me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I went to Hungary without knowing the country\u2019s language \u2014 I didn\u2019t speak English either \u2014 and I didn\u2019t know anyone, not even the Cuban dancer who was there. I had to start from scratch, and that was another turning point, a point of maturity. Now I\u2019m grateful for having taken the plunge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the pandemic, no one knew what would happen. In fact, surviving was a reason to be happy. I evaluated my possibilities; I saw that the world began to open up before us [Cuba]; they were already working and I needed to dance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you decided to emigrate, you were a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba. Do you think you missed out on anything here?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes. I wanted to…I want to star in this company\u2019s great ballets \u2014 <\/span>Giselle<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Carmen<\/span><\/i>. The Cuban versions are unparalleled. That\u2019s what I missed. I still had many roles to play; I did <\/span>Don Quixote<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Swan Lake<\/span><\/i>, and I miss embodying those roles in the BNC\u2019s historic versions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you remember that first choreography that allowed you to shine on stage with the National Ballet of Cuba?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My first ballet as a soloist was <\/span>En las sombras de un vals<\/span><\/i> by Alicia Alonso. I was part of the corps de ballet and we were in the dress rehearsal. The girl who was supposed to be the soloist got hurt, and when the rehearsal was over, they told me I had to replace her.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I had to learn the choreography in two days. I did it that night at home, the next day I had a rehearsal and the next day I danced it. I remember it fondly because I studied so hard in those 48 hours. I danced it twice, and it was a source of joy and motivation. I think from then on, the teachers saw they could trust me. That\u2019s why a dancer always has to be prepared: you never know when your moment will come.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I would finish my rehearsals with the corps de ballet and go see Annette Delgado\u2019s rehearsals with Aurora Bosch, or Grettel Morej\u00f3n\u2019s rehearsals with Mar\u00eda Elena Llorente. I watched all of Viengsay\u2019s rehearsals. I tried to observe what the life of a prima ballerina was like from the outside, and I learned so much from them: from the way they tied their shoes, what leotard they wore, how they reacted. Ballet, as a performing art, is very visual. You have to watch what other dancers do, because the more you observe how they react, even on their bad days, all of that contributes to your performance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"During
During the Les Etoiles de Cuba gala. Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"During
During the Les Etoiles de Cuba gala. Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you leave school, you have to realize that you have to move differently, incorporate other knowledge and thoroughly work on your technique with your partners. Only then can you earn a place, if you make a mental and physical change. I watched those dancers and realized I still didn\u2019t move like that. Of course, time passes, and you build relationships, ask questions and conduct short interviews with more experienced dancers: \u201cWhat do you think when you do arabesques? And in this step, what do you feel?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s how I found my way of moving, and I think the teachers realized I had potential. Of course, every time they gave me a chance, I tried to do it perfectly. That\u2019s how it\u2019s been until now, every time I step on stage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What piece did you debut with in Hungary?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was <\/span>Mayerling<\/span><\/i>, in the role of Countess Larisch; it\u2019s a work by Kenneth MacMillan (1929-1992) that I always saw on records. It felt so distant…. It was a good start to my time in Hungary and I had the guidance of a choreography consultant who worked with MacMillan. He explained it as if it were a story \u2014 it\u2019s a ballet based on true events \u2014 and made me want to one day go to the place where it all happened. It\u2019s very theatrical, with spectacular music by Franz Liszt.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I loved the experience, and also seeing those huge productions. That was a change for me: arriving at my dressing room table and having so many different costumes, full of glitter and props. I remember having to do about seven costume changes; I didn\u2019t know how to communicate, and it was a challenge. I\u2019ve learned so much in three and a half years. I never thought Claudia would change and learn so much in such a short time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How would you define that time?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lately, I\u2019ve been reading a book about bamboo. It explains that the plant spends five years underground and then grows several meters in three months. I think my development has been like that. I identify with bamboo in terms of learning times, of experiencing the growth process and then blossoming. I think that blossoming is yet to come.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I moved to Hungary, I experienced the same feeling I had when I joined the National Ballet of Cuba for the first time. I have so much to learn from the valuable people around me. Suddenly, I have colleagues who aren\u2019t the people I grew up with, dancers from all the world\u2019s schools. A very rich, multicultural exchange takes place. Then I think, \u201cMy God! That\u2019s what Fernando, Alberto and Alicia Alonso experienced when they were creating the Cuban school of ballet.\u201d Now I have the opportunity to make the comparison and defend my school.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Hungary your definitive destination? How do you see the future?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think settling in Hungary was positive, also because, being located in Central Europe, I can move around, experience other things and return. Luckily, my director in Hungary is quite flexible. I fell in love with that country: the city, the company\u2019s repertoire, which is 80% classical, although we do include contemporary pieces. So far, that\u2019s my focus, but I don\u2019t rule out other experiences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How was your season that just ended?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was intense. Last season I started with my debut in a version of <\/span>Copp\u00e9lia<\/span><\/i>, composed by Gyula Harangoz\u00f3. It\u2019s a different <\/span>Copp\u00e9lia<\/span><\/i>, one I wasn\u2019t familiar with; even the story unfolds differently, very technically difficult. Then I had my debut in <\/span>The Nutcracker<\/span><\/i>, where the lead dancer plays the roles of the girl and the fairy \u2014 in the Cuban version, the lead dancer only plays the role of the Garapi\u00f1ada Fairy in the second act \u2014 and that was a challenge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most recent was my debut as Gamzatti in <\/span>La Bayad\u00e8re<\/span><\/i>, a ballet I dreamed of performing. It has three acts, is quite long, with that admirable entrance of the \u201cShadows.\u201d I really liked this version.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your family lives in Havana. I imagine that, after each season, vacation allows you to return and recharge.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year I return, yes. And every time I come, I try to visit the National Ballet of Cuba. I even taught a summer course here on one of those trips, with a group of children, and it was so informative. I relied so much on my teachers; I realized I was repeating the same patterns they taught me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think that\u2019s something Fernando and Alicia achieved very well: the Cuban school of ballet has it deeply rooted. You never see teaching ballet separate from your career as a dancer. One grows up with that history and then one has the responsibility to share the knowledge, to continue the legacy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you see yourself as a ballet ma\u00eetre in the future?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, I like it. Above all, working with repertoire, because teaching the methodology itself is a pretty big responsibility. Sometimes I see small flaws that I struggle to correct, even in myself.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you deal with the failed step? Are there any impossible things in dance for Claudia Garc\u00eda?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every time I finish a performance, even if it went well, there\u2019s always a mixture of feelings. I keep thinking about what might have gone wrong and how to fix it and do it better next time. Of course, we\u2019re human: if you don\u2019t fail, it\u2019s because you don\u2019t dance. That motivates me to keep going and always try again; to arrive the next day to master that step that, perhaps, the night before in the performance, didn\u2019t go quite as I wanted.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think I have an impossible step in every performance (she smiles), that moment that represents a challenge. But, after rehearsing and practicing it so much, that moment emerges and becomes your strongest point, because you decide to conquer it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to turn 29. I already see that I\u2019m halfway there and this is a career that, truly, is very short. I realize this. I spent seven years with the National Ballet of Cuba, and I\u2019m already in my third year in Hungary. But, luckily, I\u2019ve had quite a few experiences. I\u2019m grateful and proud of every opportunity that allows me to grow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you feel impatient when you say this is a short career, or do you take it step by step?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I take it step by step. I\u2019ve noticed that I need to start enjoying every moment more because it\u2019s a short career, but it can be much shorter: you never know what can happen. Many people have had to stop dancing because they get hurt. I\u2019ve learned to enjoy every moment, even that \u201cimpossible step\u201d that stresses you out. One day I won\u2019t be able to do this, and I\u2019ll miss it, so I enjoy it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I think about experiences to be lived in your career and <\/span><\/b>Giselle<\/span><\/i><\/b> comes to mind.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes…. <\/span>Giselle<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Carmen<\/span><\/i>. They are ballets I want to be able to dance one day. I think, because of the tradition of the Cuban school of ballet, I don\u2019t feel complete if I don\u2019t dance them. Also, the process of creating those characters will also make me grow a lot, but it has to be in the Cuban versions (she smiles).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Giselle<\/span><\/i><\/b> continues to be the defining ballet for ballerinas.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, especially in Cuba. To become a prima ballerina, you must go through <\/span>Giselle<\/span><\/i>, of course, with the significance of the imprint Alicia left in that role.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Could this debut in both roles happen with the National Ballet of Cuba?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s something I\u2019d like to see happen. For my part, there\u2019s the desire; I\u2019d like to return today to the Cuban version of those great classical ballets, because it\u2019s the way to return to what I was, to what my routine was like. Returning to the rooms of the National Ballet of Cuba is always like coming home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I feel the need to come and share with my colleagues, recharge and appreciate how much I\u2019ve learned. I owe everything I am to the Cuban school of ballet and I also appreciate what I have in Hungary. I\u2019m here with my eyes open, without forgetting my origins and with the clarity of knowing where my goal lies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The dancer recounts her professional evolution, the challenges of migrating and how she keeps the essence of the Cuban dance school alive while conquering an international repertoire. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12346240,"featured_media":328843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,13920],"tags":[18667,35042,19256],"ppma_author":[34896],"class_list":["post-328840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-dance","tag-cuban-ballet","tag-cuban-dancers","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nClaudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d | OnCubaNews English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d | OnCubaNews English\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OnCubaNews English\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-25T14:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1140\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"815\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sergio Murgu\u00eda\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sergio Murgu\u00eda\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"20 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"sergiogonzalez\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/14b259c6aed5332245158e752bc07c99\"},\"headline\":\"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-25T14:00:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\"},\"wordCount\":4203,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"cuban ballet\",\"Cuban dancers\",\"featured\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Culture\",\"Dance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\",\"name\":\"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d | OnCubaNews English\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-25T14:00:36+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/14b259c6aed5332245158e752bc07c99\"},\"description\":\"Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg\",\"width\":1140,\"height\":815,\"caption\":\"Pas de deux in \u201cDon Quixote.\u201d Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Portada\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"OnCubaNews English\",\"description\":\"Revista sobre Cuba\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/14b259c6aed5332245158e752bc07c99\",\"name\":\"sergiogonzalez\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/79f84f69462b171c0a110ecc663071f3\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1644c24b8555af02e7e8bf2f312860bf0287fcda93143fcdfea08a7be63f63b5?s=96&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1644c24b8555af02e7e8bf2f312860bf0287fcda93143fcdfea08a7be63f63b5?s=96&r=g\",\"caption\":\"sergiogonzalez\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/author\/sergiogonzalez\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d | OnCubaNews English","description":"Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d | OnCubaNews English","og_description":"Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist.","og_url":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/","og_site_name":"OnCubaNews English","article_published_time":"2025-09-25T14:00:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1140,"height":815,"url":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sergio Murgu\u00eda","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sergio Murgu\u00eda","Est. reading time":"20 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/"},"author":{"name":"sergiogonzalez","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/14b259c6aed5332245158e752bc07c99"},"headline":"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d","datePublished":"2025-09-25T14:00:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/"},"wordCount":4203,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg","keywords":["cuban ballet","Cuban dancers","featured"],"articleSection":["Culture","Dance"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/","url":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/","name":"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d | OnCubaNews English","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-25T14:00:36+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/14b259c6aed5332245158e752bc07c99"},"description":"Claudia Garc\u00eda Carriera returns to Hungary with renewed energy. Since 2022, she has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a soloist.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/claudiaballet-1.jpg","width":1140,"height":815,"caption":"Pas de deux in \u201cDon Quixote.\u201d Photo: Taken from Claudia Garc\u00eda\u2019s Instagram profile."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/claudia-garcia-when-i-dont-feel-well-ballet-soothes-me\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Portada","item":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Claudia Garc\u00eda: \u201cWhen I don\u2019t feel well, ballet soothes me\u201d"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/","name":"OnCubaNews English","description":"Revista sobre Cuba","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/14b259c6aed5332245158e752bc07c99","name":"sergiogonzalez","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/79f84f69462b171c0a110ecc663071f3","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1644c24b8555af02e7e8bf2f312860bf0287fcda93143fcdfea08a7be63f63b5?s=96&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1644c24b8555af02e7e8bf2f312860bf0287fcda93143fcdfea08a7be63f63b5?s=96&r=g","caption":"sergiogonzalez"},"url":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/author\/sergiogonzalez\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":34896,"user_id":12346240,"is_guest":0,"slug":"sergiogonzalez","display_name":"Sergio Murgu\u00eda","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1644c24b8555af02e7e8bf2f312860bf0287fcda93143fcdfea08a7be63f63b5?s=96&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12346240"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328840"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328840\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":328841,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328840\/revisions\/328841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/328843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328840"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=328840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}