The stage beckons once again for Cuban performers

HAVANA－Cuban ballet dancer Daniela Gomez is preparing for performances as the country continues to lift COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

The 25-year-old ballerina, who resumed rehearsals one week ago, says she is eager to perform again in front of a live audience and happy to dance with fellow dancers.

After 19 months since the pandemic hit the Caribbean nation, Cuba's National Ballet has announced it will return onstage in early December.

"Over the past months, we have learned many things about ourselves and our professional careers, but nothing will compare with the feeling of being back onstage," she says.

"Wearing a facemask while dancing is not something I pretty much like, but it is necessary," she adds.

Gomez's excitement about returning to the stage is shared by the over 60 dancers from the world-class ballet company.

Among them is Fernando Meireles, a 19-year-old dancer from Havana. As he stayed home waiting for cultural venues and theaters to reopen, he either used his kitchen counter as a barre or leaped across his terrace to keep in good shape.

"We have gone through a difficult time while sheltering at home due to the coronavirus emergency, therefore, it is fantastic to be back on track," he says.

"I feel optimistic about the future."

With COVID-19 protocols in place, ballet dancers are provided with disinfectants to keep sanitized and diminish the risk of getting infected.

Maria Elena Llorente, one of the company's main ballet mistresses, says the dancers are training for hours every day to achieve optimum fitness.

"We have gradually started to increase training for dancers to gain muscle mass," she says. "I hope the pandemic will soon come to an end."

Meanwhile, prima ballerina Viengsay Valdes, director of Cuba's National Ballet, says huge efforts have been made to guarantee that dancers can get back in shape.

"I trust our dancers' capacity to show their passion for dance and ballet," she says.

"As a limited number of people will be able to enjoy our shows at theaters due to the COVID-19 guidelines, organizing outdoor performances could be a possibility," she adds.

Xinhua