Alonso, Alicia

Alonso, Alicia
orig. Alicia Martínez Hoyo

born Dec. 21, 1921, Havana, Cuba

Cuban ballerina, choreographer, and director.

She studied in Havana and New York, where she danced with Ballet Theatre (later American Ballet Theatre; 1940–41, 1943–48, 1950–55, 1958–59). In 1948 she formed her own company, Ballet Alicia Alonso (renamed Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1959), with which she performed frequently on tour in Latin America. Despite failing eyesight, she continued for many years to dance leading roles as a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre and other companies.

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▪ Cuban dancer
original name in full  Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad del Cobre Martínez y del Hoyo 
born December 21, 1921, Havana, Cuba
 
 Cuban ballerina highly regarded for her convincing portrayals of leading roles in the great works of classical and Romantic ballet. She was best known for her lively, precise Giselle and for her sensual, tragic Carmen.

      Alonso's dance studies began in her childhood with flamenco lessons in Spain. Later she studied ballet in Havana and then, at age 17, enrolled in the School of American Ballet in New York City. Having made her stage debut in the musical comedy Great Lady in 1938, she joined George Balanchine's Ballet Caravan in 1939 but moved to the newly formed Ballet Theatre (later American Ballet Theatre) in 1940; after one year she was forced to leave because of eye problems (a difficulty that persisted throughout her life). Alonso returned to Ballet Theatre in 1943 and danced the lead in Giselle, remaining with the company for five years. She then began to tour as a guest dancer, often with partner Igor Youskevitch, and in 1948 founded the Alicia Alonso Ballet Company in Cuba, through which she became known for her artistry as a choreographer, which ranged from variations on classic works such as Swan Lake to the comic ballet A Voyage to the Moon.

      Over the next 14 years Alonso danced with many companies, including the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1955 to 1959. Her own company was renamed Ballet de Cuba in 1955. In 1957 she became the first Western dancer invited to perform in the Soviet Union. After Fidel Castro came into power in Cuba in 1959, her ballet company was renamed Ballet Nacional de Cuba (National Ballet of Cuba), with Alonso remaining as its director. UNESCO awarded her the Pablo Picasso Medal, its award for notable contributions to arts or culture, in 1999.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Alonso, Alicia — orig. Alicia Martínez Hoyo (n. 21 dic. 1921, La Habana, Cuba). Bailarina, coreógrafa y directora de ballet cubana. Estudió en La Habana y Nueva York, donde bailó en el Ballet Theatre (luego, American Ballet Theatre; 1940–41, 1943–48, 1950–55,… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Alonso,Alicia — A·lon·so (ə lŏnʹzō, ä lōnʹsō), Alicia. Born c. 1921. Cuban ballerina and choreographer best known for her performances in Giselle and Agnes De Mille s Fall River Legend. * * * …   Universalium

  • Alicia Alonso — Nacimiento 21 de diciembre …   Wikipedia Español

  • Alicia Alonso (Danseuse) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Alicia Alonso et Alonso. Alicia Alonso en 1946 dans …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alicia alonso (danseuse) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Alicia Alonso et Alonso. Alicia Alonso en 1946 dans …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad dei Cobre Martínez Hoyo — Alicia Alonso (danseuse) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Alicia Alonso et Alonso. Alicia Alonso en 1946 dans …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alicia Alonso — (* 21. Dezember 1920 in Havanna als Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad del Cobre Martínez Hoya) ist eine kubanische Primaballerina, Ballettdirektorin und Choreografin. Sie war in den 50er Jahren eine der international führenden Tänzerinnen und baute… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alicia Alonso (Actrice) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Alicia Alonso et Alonso. Alicia Alonso est une actrice française. Alicia Alonso s est surtout illustrée dans des téléfilms, où elle a notamment tenu les rôles titres des séries Marie Fransson et Inspecteur… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alicia alonso (actrice) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Alicia Alonso et Alonso. Alicia Alonso est une actrice française. Alicia Alonso s est surtout illustrée dans des téléfilms, où elle a notamment tenu les rôles titres des séries Marie Fransson et Inspecteur… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alonso — alonso. □ V. trigo alonso. * * * Alonso, Amado Alonso, Dámaso Alonso, Fernando Alonso, Odón * * * (as used in expressions) Alonso, Alicia …   Enciclopedia Universal

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