Dance critic, historian plans three preview events
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Renowned dance critic and historian Octavio Roca will be featured at three special events ahead of the National Ballet of Cuba’s historic visit to Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
SPAC recently announced that Roca, author of of Cuban Ballet, will visit Saratoga Springs for three free special events on May 22 and 23 in advance of the company’s SPAC debut in early June.
Kicking off an exploration of Cuban Ballet and its founder Alicia Alonso, the National Museum of Dance will host a welcome reception and “Alicia Alonso’s Giselle” photo exhibition at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22.
The next day, Roca will be part of an informal coffee chat and news conference at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23 at Anne’s Washington Inn.
Later than evening, there will be a 7 p.m. interactive discussion led by Roca entitled “Cuba’s Alicia—Alonso’s Giselle” at Skidmore College’s Dance Theater.
The author of several books including Cuban Ballet, Octavio Roca is a renowned dance historian and music and dance critic for The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as Associate Professor of Philosophy at Miami Dade College. Cuban Ballet, with forewords by Alicia Alonso and Mikhail Baryshnikov, explores the history of Cuban ballet by focusing on the life and career of the indomitable Alicia Alonso. It also spotlights many of the young dancers who are changing the face of ballet with their superb technique, impeccable work ethic, and spectacular performances.
Roca’s upcoming talk at Skidmore College aims to be an informed and affectionate conversation about one of history’s loveliest surprises: how a French masterpiece based on a German poem, once best known through Russian interpretations, has been spectacularly recreated and defined by a Cuban ballerina.
“Octavio Roca is the foremost authority on Ballet in Cuba and its fascinating founder, Alicia Alonso. We are delighted to bring him to Saratoga to learn more about his experiences growing up in Havana where his mother was a ballet dancer, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the artistic process in Cuba and how National Ballet of Cuba became one of the best and most important ballet companies in the world,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in a press release. “Thanks to our partners Skidmore College, National Museum of Dance and Anne’s Washington Inn for hosting these three special, unique events.”
National Ballet of Cuba will make its first appearance at Saratoga Performing Arts Center as one of just four U.S. locations on its tour and only visit to New York State for three performances of story ballet Giselle on June 6, 7 and 8, presented in partnership with Skidmore College.
Speaking about National Ballet of Cuba’s upcoming performance, Roca said in the release, “It is no accident that the Paris Opera Ballet sent its ballet masters to Havana to learn from the Cubans. The Alonso staging of Giselle is one of the most thrilling and moving dance spectacles before the public today: note-complete, dramatically astute and emotionally true, an ideal vehicle for some of the world’s greatest dancers. No one who loves dance can afford to miss this Giselle.”
Reservations for all of these free events are recommended. Those interested can visit spac.org for details.