“Congratulations, girl who flies over the stages, honoring the legendary Cuban ballet, perpetuating the legacy of the great dancers, and being yourself without ceasing to be them. Your National Dance Award makes Cuba proud,” the president wrote on Wednesday, on his X profile.

Valdes received this award on Tuesday, thanks to her virtuosity and the passion with which she transmits emotions on stage.

The artist’s vast repertoire includes roles from the great romantic-classical ballet tradition and contemporary works by Cuban and foreign choreographers.

A faithful exponent of the Cuban Ballet School, Valdes is heir to the Alicia Alonso and Fernando Alonso legacy. She has received excellent reviews from national and foreign specialized press.

She holds a gold medal at Vignale Danza, Italy, in 1993; the Excelencias de Cuba Award in 2018 for her artistic career’s commitment to the BNC; the “Leonide Massine” Positano Dance Award in the Best Dancer category on the international scene, among many other condecorations.

jrr/iff/mem/mks