Tag: cuban national ballet school

What My Teacher Taught Me: Lyvan Verdecia

Lyvan Verdecia and Melissa Fernandez When Ballet Hispánico’s Lyvan Verdecia was studying at the Cuban National Ballet School as a teenager, Martha Iris Fernandez helped him perfect his turns. “Male dancers in Cuba are known for their turns and their jumps. For me, jumps always came naturally, but turns—not so much. So Martha would focus […]

Travelogues from Three Dance Artists about Trips to Bali, Russia and Cuba

Teaching dance in a foreign culture can be eye-opening on many levels, for both young dancers and their teachers. We talked with three American artists about recent projects in Bali, Russia and Cuba. They spoke of the challenges and the joys, and shared helpful tips you won’t likely find in travel guidebooks. Cultural differences can […]