Talent and powerful performances will electrify the stage during this event, which coincides with Cuban Culture Day and kicks off a season of celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of the United Nations, the 78th anniversary of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), and Hispanic Day (October 12).

Under the general direction of Viengsay Valdes, the classical ballet company will present a suite from *Don Quixote*, based on the staging by Alicia Alonso (who oversaw artistic and choreographic direction), Marta Garcia, and Maria Elena Llorente—drawing from the original by Marius Petipa and the version by Alexander Gorsky.

Meanwhile, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, led by Miguel Iglesias, will perform excerpts from *Katharsis Morphe* by George Cespedes. The National Folkloric Ensemble (*Conjunto Folklorico Nacional*), under the direction of Leivan Garcia, will present segments from its *Yoruba Cycle* (*Yemaya* and *Shango*), featuring choreography by the Mexican artist Rodolfo Reyes and a libretto by Rogelio Martinez.

On October 24 and 25, the BNC will present its version of *Giselle*, staged by Alicia Alonso and based on the original by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli, as well as the version by Marius Petipa.

VWith this production, the prestigious company previously captivated Russian audiences at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre.

The show *The Magic of Dance* will be a grand finale on October 28—a date that commemorates the 78th anniversary of the first performance given by what was then the Alicia Alonso Ballet, now the National Ballet of Cuba.

This production features significant moments from 19th-century ballet, as interpreted by Alicia Alonso, as well as the finale of *Symphony of Gottschalk*, also choreographed by her.

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