Havana, Cuba.-The classes, workshops and conferences of the XXIII International Meeting of academies for the teaching of ballet began today in the main school institution of this art in Cuba, with representatives of a dozen countries.

The National School of Ballet Fernando Alonso will host the intense academic day, unique of its kind in the world, which will take place in this capital until next April 19.

The event was inaugurated the day before in the National Theater with a gala whose main dish was a suite of the classic El corsario(Corsair), in which students of different levels were able to demonstrate their technical skills.

For 10 days, students and teachers of ballet academies from a dozen countries will exchange around artistic teaching and the appropriate development of technique.

The apprentices enrolled in the 23rd meeting will be able to take classes of physical preparation, tips, repertoire, choreographic composition, dances of character and classic duet, among several subjects.

The Cuban National Ballet (BNC) historian Miguel Cabrera recalled at the opening ceremony the strong ties of the company’s founders and school with the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, to whom the present Meeting is dedicated.

The conferences this year will delve into the qualities of flamenco dancing, drums at the Cuban ballet school and the prevention of foot and ankle injuries in students.

While the optional workshops include complementary disciplines for any artistic profession such as acting, makeup, dance criticism, folklore, physical preparation, pillars in the context of the world of ballet, Spanish dance and character dances.

Students from different nations will share the stage of the Avellaneda room of the National Theater of Cuba in two artistic galas, on April 11 and 12, and in the following days, a select group will compete according to categories established by age.