toursenlair Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 The great Cuban ballerina died this morning. She was 98 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article236359533.html 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Such sad news. She was one of those people I thought would go on forever. RIP to this inspirational lady. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannette Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Rest in Peace, Alicia Alonso. She led a long and fruitful life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 She was one of the first famous dancers whose autograph I asked for aged 12!! I was mesmerised by her that day but what a lovely long and productive life she has had. So few of that era now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryrosesatonapin Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 What a legacy she has left. Even in old age she was every inch the prima ballerina assoluta. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 I saw her perform once, at the Dominion in the Tottenham Court Road. She wasn't exactly good but I have never forgotten it. She was both a diva and an utter legend. A real link with ballet's past. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneL Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 I read about her in a little book of famous dancers I was given as a child, over 50 years ago - and the book wasn’t new then! When I visited Havana with my daughter in 2011 we went to a performance of the Nutcracker and everyone in the audience stood and clapped when she took her place in the auditorium. She was a great legend of ballet for sure. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 A sample of the coverage of Mme Alonso's death: https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqSQgKIkNDQklTTERvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoOGFIV1JDYUZWUVpscGZURFpvVGpoTlRYWnlPRTQyTkVKVlYycDBjSFZOS0FBUAE?q=ballet&lr=English&hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB:en 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 4 hours ago, toursenlair said: The great Cuban ballerina died this morning. She was 98 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article236359533.html I would have loved to see this great lady make it to 100! Que descanse en paz. ❤️👏💐 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) I first saw Alonso dance in Giselle in her 60's aside the glorious Jorge Esquivel. I remember it as being a life enriching event. That memory lives in both my heart and mind's eye even now. I can see it. I can taste it. It is visceral. I also vividly remember the glory of her wit years later at Nora Kaye's memorial service where she had the capacity City Center audience in stitches with the warmth of her memories. She was radiant. There is no question but that this is a life that deserves to be hugely celebrated. RIP. Edited October 17, 2019 by Bruce Wall 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 A great damcer. A great lady. RIP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 (edited) On the World at One this lunchtime, Mark Mardell did a lovely interview about her with Dame Monica Mason. I found it very moving. Edited October 18, 2019 by Richard LH 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Very sorry to hear of Alicia's passing. RIP. I remember singing Happy Birthday to her once at ROH a few years ago when she was in the Royal Box - I cant remember what the ballet occasion was or why she was there - anyone else remember? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Don Q Fan said: Very sorry to hear of Alicia's passing. RIP. I remember singing Happy Birthday to her once at ROH a few years ago when she was in the Royal Box - I cant remember what the ballet occasion was or why she was there - anyone else remember? If you can find today's World at One interview on BBC Sound I think Monica Mason mentioned this occasion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlexyNexy Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Really a great loss for dance world, leaves us a great legacy ..., your contributions to dance, your dedication and professionalism will be remembered for many generations! Como triste es ver un adios a una grande MAESTRA ALICIA...Descansa en Paz ⚘ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivy Lin Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 I wrote a little appreciation of her in video compared to contemporary accounts of her dancing: https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2019/10/alicia-alonso-written-word-vs-video.html 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janite Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 On 18/10/2019 at 15:16, Richard LH said: On the World at One this lunchtime, Mark Mardell did a lovely interview about her with Dame Monica Mason. I found it very moving. start at 38.13 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0009d1f 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannette Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Alicia Alonso’s coffin is draped in Giselle’s veil. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=117743032973275&id=100042127353552&set=p.117743032973275&source=47&ref=m_notif¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Wow! And so many flowers! I wonder if the RB sent a wreath. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 (edited) TV footage Here is some very moving footage of Alicia Alonso's coffin being taken out of the Gran Teatro by dancers to the hearse. Edited October 20, 2019 by Pas de Quatre correction 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Thanks PDQ, I've just shed a tear or two watching that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Wow she really was loved. What a lovely send off. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estreiiita Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I saw ballet for the first time in my life in Cuba in 60s, it's quite possible that it was one with Alicia Alonso in leading part, the only reminder of the performance is my own drawing ( and I was 5-6 years at that time), so it looks like it made quite an impression on me. Then I took my kids to the ballet in Cuba - and it was superb, though again I don't remember exactly if Alicia was dancing. What I do remember is her appearance on the stage after "Don Quichote" performance for some years ago in Paris - what a noble and great lady - even if she needed assistance to come to the stage! Thank you, Alicia, for everything you've done for the ballet in general and for Cuban ballet as well and particularly for me: my love for the ballet comes from that first performance in 60s, in GranTeatro de La Habana! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akh Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Wonderful that in Cuba ballet is accessible to all and she was a big part of making that happen. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 A lovely memory of Alicia Alonso: https://www.dancemagazine.com/alicia-alonso-2641050795.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 That was very moving. There are some lovely clips of her dancing on Youtube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannette Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) I second the appreciation for that clip. Not too many of the "ballet greats" of my childhood (seasoned ballet stars in the 60s) left. Carla Fracci may be "the last of the mohicans"? Also, Marcia Haydee, now in Chile. Edited October 21, 2019 by Jeannette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctas Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 On 17/10/2019 at 19:34, AnneL said: I read about her in a little book of famous dancers I was given as a child, over 50 years ago - and the book wasn’t new then! When I visited Havana with my daughter in 2011 we went to a performance of the Nutcracker and everyone in the audience stood and clapped when she took her place in the auditorium. She was a great legend of ballet for sure. Further to AnneL’s post, I was actually unaware of how much she’d accomplished at the moment she walked into that auditorium back in 2011 but will never forget that moment! The awe and respect in that room for her was quite something. Happy to say that I was swiftly filled in on some essential ballet history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneL Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 On 18/10/2019 at 15:16, Richard LH said: On the World at One this lunchtime, Mark Mardell did a lovely interview about her with Dame Monica Mason. I found it very moving. Thanks for mentioning this. I listened to it on the BBC app. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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