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Richmond Ballet Dancers Travel to Cuba for Cultural Exchange

2/19/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2010

Media Contact:
Aaron Sutten
(804) 344-0906 ext. 244
asutten@richmondballet.com

RICHMOND - Richmond Ballet company member Cecile Tuzii and Resident Artist Igor Antonov left Richmond Monday, February 15 for Cuba. While there, they will assist American theater and dance legend Gemze de Lappe in researching the early works of Agnes de Mille in order to preserve them for future generations. Miss de Lappe, 86, was the protégé and long-time assistant of the renowned American choreographer; she now spends her time traveling and recreating de Mille's choreography for theatres, ballet companies and universities. During their week-long stay in Cuba, they will be working with prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso, 90, and the dancers of the National Ballet of Cuba, which Miss Alonso founded in 1948 and continues to direct.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Miss Alonso performed as a principal with American Ballet Theatre and danced leading roles in several de Mille ballets. It was during this period that she and Miss de Lappe first became acquainted. Miss Alonso was the first dancer to perform the leading role of Lizzie Borden in de Mille's Fall River Legend, and this is one of the reasons that Miss de Lappe is making the trip to Cuba.

"Alicia was the best of the ‘Lizzies'," says Miss de Lappe. "There was something special about her performance, so I want to pick her brain about this historic ballet."

Miss de Lappe will also observe rehearsals and classes to learn how Miss Alonso and her company approach the dramatic story ballets for which Miss de Mille was so well known. She hopes to come away with a deeper understanding of the de Mille ballets in which Miss Alonso danced.

Ms. Tuzii and Mr. Antonov worked with Miss de Lappe in 2007 when she came to Richmond Ballet to reconstruct another of Miss de Mille's ballets, A Rose for Miss Emily. Miss de Lappe created the role of Emily in the original American Ballet Theatre production in 1971, and Ms. Tuzii is one of two dancers who learned the role for the Richmond Ballet production. Mr. Antonov learned the role of the male lead. Because of their familiarity with Miss de Mille's style of choreography and because Miss de Lappe no longer dances, they will be helping her gather important information from Miss Alonso and the Cuban dancers about the de Mille ballets in which Miss Alonso appeared or performed.

Richmond Ballet Artistic Director Stoner Winslett notes that this face-to-face sharing of information is vital in the world of dance. "Even though we are now able to record performances on video, the preservation of dance remains an oral tradition," says Ms. Winslett. "The nuances of a role or piece of choreography can really only be passed from one dancer directly to another. The tilt of a head or the turn of a shoulder can make a huge difference in portraying a role as the choreographer intended it." Ms. Winslett also notes, "This is a wonderful opportunity for Cecile and Igor; they will be working with two dance legends."

Ms. Tuzii and Mr. Antonov are looking forward to the trip. "I am thrilled to be working with Gemze again," says Mr. Antonov. "I am also excited to meet Miss Alonso and see the National Ballet of Cuba, which has one of the best companies and schools in the world." Ms. Tuzii comments, "It will be so exciting to work with these two ladies who are legendary in the world of ballet."

Miss de Lappe is equally complimentary about Ms. Tuzii and Mr. Antonov: "I'm so proud to have these brilliant Richmond Ballet dancers working with me on this special project."

The dancers will return to Richmond February 22.