Alicia Alonso was a Cuban dancer and choreographer born in Havana on December 21, 1920, and she passed away in the same city on October 17, 2019, at the age of 98. As Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the National Ballet of Cuba, she is regarded as a legend in the world of dance, renowned for her performances as Giselle and Carmen, among many others.
Alonso was born in Havana and was one of the two daughters of an army officer and his wife. The family had a comfortable and affluent lifestyle, living in one of the best areas of the capital. From a very young age, Alonso showed an affinity for music and dance—her mother could entertain her for long periods with just a phonograph, a scarf, and some records.
She started dancing at the age of seven.
In June 1931, she began studying ballet at the Sociedad Pro-Arte Musical de La Habana with Nikolai Yavorsk and performed publicly for the first time on December 29, 1931, at the age of 10. Her first serious debut was in Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty at the Teatro Auditorio on October 26, 1932. She initially danced in Cuba under the name Alicia Martínez.
In 1937, the dancer fell in love with her ballet classmate, Fernando Alonso, whom she married. After their wedding, she adopted his last name, becoming known internationally as Alonso. The new couple moved to New York City, hoping to launch their professional careers. There, they found accommodation with some relatives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, near Riverside Drive. She gave birth to a daughter, Laura, but managed to continue her training at the American Ballet School and took private lessons. She traveled to London to study with Vera Volkova. Meanwhile, her husband joined the new Mordkin Ballet Company in New York.
After experiencing several vision problems, she was diagnosed in 1941 with issues in her retina, which required her to undergo surgery up to three times, resulting in a loss of some peripheral vision. Nevertheless, she continued with her career and returned to New York in 1943 to further enhance her style.
Alonso worked with the Russian Ballet of Monte Carlo from 1955 to 1959, during which he performed in a 10-week tour of the Soviet Union, dancing in Giselle. His performances earned him the Dance Magazine award in 1958.
Due to Alonso's affiliation with the new regime established in Havana, the public in the United States largely turned their backs on her. The Cuban government from the 1960s to the 1980s did not allow Cuban artists to engage with the United States, to some extent due to fears of defection. However, Alonso's company continued to achieve success in both Eastern and Western Europe. In 1967 and 1971, they performed in Canada, where audiences noted that Alonso remained the greatest dancer of her time.
In 1998, the University of Valencia (Spain) awarded her the title of Honorary Professor.
In 2010, the Ministry of Culture declared 2010 as "The Year of Alicia Alonso," in celebration of the 90th anniversary of her birth. Both in Cuba and in various parts of the world, she received heartfelt tributes and significant honors from cultural, social, and political entities.
Some of her national and international recognitions include: National Order of Merit Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and the title of "Dame." Republic of Cuba, 1947; "Palma de Revolución" awarded to the most outstanding artist. Periódico Revolución, 1961; plaque for "Outstanding Woman in the Arts." Federation of Cuban Women, 1963-67; Diploma of Recognition. National Committee of the Union of Communist Youth, 1966; Order for "30 Years of Dedication to the Arts." National Union of Arts and Entertainment, 1968; Medal of Honor. Greek Theatre of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America, 1957; Grand Prize of the City of Paris. IV International Dance Festival, Paris, France, 1966; Gold Medal. Gran Teatro Liceo de Barcelona, Spain, 1971.
