The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, gave special recognition to the participating national and international companies, including the Cuban delegation, headed by principal dancer and general director of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), Viengsay Valdés.

Valdes’ presence was one of the most significant moments of the event. Considered one of the most outstanding figures in contemporary Cuban ballet and heir to the school founded by Alicia Alonso, the artist participated in galas, professional meetings, and academic activities that distinguished the program.

According to an official statement, the Caribbean delegation also included dancers Anyel Montero, Yankiel Vazquez, Alianed Moreno, Nadila Estrada, and Alejandro Alderete, who performed a repertoire comprised of emblematic pieces from the island’s classical and contemporary works.

According to the organizers, the Cuban company presented the Adagio de la Rosa from Sleeping Beauty in Alicia Alonso’s choreographic version, along with the celebrated ballets Esmeralda and Le Corsaire.

Several specialized media outlets highlighted Valdes’ presence at the festival, considering her one of the leading ambassadors of the Cuban school of ballet and an international figure for her artistic career and work at the helm of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), an institution recognized worldwide for the strength of its technical and stylistic training.

The Panama Ballet Fest closes its doors with the aim of establishing itself as a permanent platform for the promotion of dance and regional artistic exchange, an objective to which Cuba’s participation contributed significantly.

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