by Damián Donéstevez

Alihaydeé Carreño was a principal dancer with the Cuban National Ballet Company for a number of years, dancing all the major roles of the world’s classical ballet repertoire. The niece of Jose Manuel, principal with the ABT and Yoel, principal with the Cuban company, she is back after five years to delight Cuban ballet fans

. I caught up with Alihaydée and spoke about this experience.

- Artists are people with a lot of sensations, so are dancers. After being five years away from Cuban stages, after having danced Giselle at Havana’s Grand Theater, what are your sensations about it? How do you think you danced on this occasion?

For me it was a great emotion to have been able to reencounter with my country, with my audience, who so much admire and love me. It’s been one of the greatest moments in my career, because I was able to remember the old times on the stage of the theater where I became a star, where I realized as a ballerina, where each performance I had I felt the people’s love for me. So, this was a very touching evening, an evening that I will never forget, even though I felt tense since I hadn’t danced in Cuba for many years, after having been a mother for a second time and being away from my country, so this evening, this performance of Giselle on October 10th was memorable for me.

- You danced Giselle, which is an emblematic ballet for any ballerina, for any company, and in Cuba, in particular, it’s a very important ballet. How do you prepare to play such a difficult part, with so many hints, which is so different in Act 1 and 2?

I would say that for so many years and even when I retire I will still have this innate style in my body for dancing this part for so many years, and thanks to the Four Jewels or Gems of the National Ballet Company, to Alicia Alonso, and, especially, to Josefina Méndez, whom I owe this style, whom I owe everything I’ve been able to achieve in this romantic ballet, which is so sacred for a prima ballerina.

In the ballet repertoire, there are many difficult ballets, but I think this is something special for a prima ballerina, because it not only includes technique but also the level of interpretation for an artist. This is one of my favorite, because I said that if I hadn’t been a dancer I would have been an actress.

- In fact, you are very histrionic, a very good actress. One can see that on stage.

I enjoy that moment when Giselle gets crazy, I enjoy the part in all sections, in Act 1 and Act 2, which despite the fact that they are two different forms, an earthly and ethereal form, there you can see how difficult and complex the part is. That’s where you see the experience I’ve had dancing it.

- Five years ago, I saw you dance for the last time in Havana’s Mella Theater, the Black Swan, the Grand Pas of Paquita. What are the similarities or differences between that Alihaydeé from five years ago and today’s Alihaydeé?

Well, the difference is that I’m older, I’m 35 years old, I’ve had two girls, I’ve had two pregnancies, I think that few female dancers have had two children, and I think that no prima ballerina has been able to do that and continue to dance. It’s a feat and a big challenge, which I can only know about, because of my willingness, effort and daily work. But I’m happy, I’m realized in the sense that, as I like dancing so much, that’s what gives me strength to go on dancing, regardless of my age.

Here the audience’s pressure is very high, because the public is very demanding and knows a lot about it, something that doesn’t occur in other countries. That gives you strength to do the best you can on stage.

- Your base of operations is in the Dominican Republic right now. What will you do in the next months?

I’m a member of a company in Santo Domingo, it’s a classical company, but it basically dances neoclassical pieces, which is why I miss the classics in Cuba so much. But I’m open to dance for the Cuban audience and my fans and devote myself to them as much as I can, making them feel well so that they can enjoy my art. I’m open to continue accepting all invitations they make to me here.