The event, inaugurated on Tuesday, welcomes more than 150 dancers, teachers and lovers of this artistic manifestation from 25 nations thanks to the joint effort of Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba and the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, from the United States.

Interviewed by Prensa Latina after the initial gala of the meeting at the National Theater, where fragments of the Habana Fénix show were staged, Campbell Carey pointed out that music and culture also enable unity and are more important than ever. This work, by Maestra Alfonso and with contributions from other artists, is full of lyricism and at the same time suggests, according to the experts, a renaissance of the Cuban capital, both material and spiritual.

It was a very interesting and unique presentation, stressed Campbell Carey, founder of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and who created Ballet Beyond Borders in the United States to celebrate the dynamic evolution of world dance, an objective capable of seducing colleagues from different latitudes.

Paterson, famous for his work for film, theater, concerts, operas, music videos, television and choreographies for Madonna and Michael Jackson, described Habana Fénix as an incredible show.

He stressed that during this visit to Cuba, his first and perhaps not the only one in the future, he is open to all the experiences that happen and has met very nice people.

On the first day of the Ballet Beyond Borders Havbana 2025, which will be extended until January 13 with a special gala at the Terry Theater, in the central-southern city of Cienfuegos, Paterson danced and taught the steps of Thriller, Jackson’s iconic piece.

Along with master classes such as the one mentioned above, the program of the meeting consists of lectures, various events and the Dance Challenge competition, divided into ballet, contemporary/modern, young choreographers (up to 30 years old) and an open section for hip hop, flamenco, ballroom dancing, tap dancing and ethnic-cultural dance forms.

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