Havana, Cuba.- The first ballerina of the Cuba´s National Ballet (BNC) Viengsay Valdes became Tuesday the artistic deputy director of the company headed by the legendary Alicia Alonso, 98 years old.

I am grateful for the placed in me, I feel I can help the dancers a lot in their training and professional development, I hope to transmit safety and inspiration to share that common dream of a united and strong company, told the dancer to Prensa Latina.

According to the official designation of the Ministry of Culture, Alonso is still the general director of the institution but Valdes would be in charge of artistic decisions.

I have the best relations with Alicia, full of respect and admiration. She always has given me great professional advice in my career and she has been was an idol to follow, said the dancer whose last performance was precisely a tribute the teacher.

Alonso, for health reasons, could not participate in the Havana 26th International Ballet Festival, from October 28 to November 6, and at the closing gala Valdes paid homage to her when she interpreted a piece by choreographer Tania Vergara about a music by Frank Fernandez entitled ParAlicia.

Passion for dance and honor, she just wrote on his Facebook , the first figure and member of the International Dance Council – belonging to UNESCO.

Valdes was chosen among the world 100 best dancers in the 2010-2011 season by the prestigious magazine Dance Europe, and she has danced in five continents stages, thanks to the commitments with the BNC and numerous invitations to world star galas and international festivals.