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You never know who in your city, town or neck-of-the-woods lives and breathes extraordinary talent. That’s what I discovered as a reporter in Gainesville, Florida.

Sent out to get :30 seconds of video on the 90^th birthday of a dancer and choreographer at the then Santa Fe Community College, I soon realized a living legend working and teaching in our midst. Even with a modest appreciation of ballet, –never mind having once been a little girl taking ballet, in awe of prima ballerinas— a small scratch beneath the surface, it was clear that Alberto Alonso’s contribution to the art of dance merits more than a quick birthday announcement on local t.v. news.

His is a story of courage, passion and inspiration.

When I met the ballet master, it was the eve of his 90^th birthday, he was instructing a master class, along with his wife Sonia Calero. His physique and energy rivaled any man more than half his age.

The ballet master was born in Havana, Cuba in 1917. If you have ever seen the formidable American Ballet Theater dance company perform at Lincoln Center in NYC, you have experienced the influence of Alonso. With his brother Fernando and sister-in-law Alicia, Alberto created the Cuban style of classic ballet, that endures today.

Defecting from Cuba, Alberto graced premiere stages around the world from Monte Carlo to the Bolshoi in Russia. The themes of his pieces illuminated his desire and need for freedom. His illustrious career even graced the silver screen, alongside the venerable Fred Astaire.

In 1993, he was granted political asylum in the United States. Though in his 70’s he became Artist-in-Residence at what is now Santa Fe College, where he taught master classes in classic ballet. Alberto died on December 31, 2007 in Gainesville.

His life, love and struggle for freedom are documented, with amazing archive footage, in the film, “Dance of My Heart: The Life and Career of Alberto Alonso.”

This piece, that aired on WCJB, is the 1^st place winner of a Society of Professional Journalists award for Feature Reporting.

To learn more visit:

http://www.danzaballet.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1715

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Cuban_Ballet_Choreographer_Alberto_Alonso_Dies_at_90_12494.html

http://www.cubatravelusa.com/ballet_cuba.htm

One Response to “90-Year-Old Ballet Dancer/Choreographer”

1. Natalie Says:
   January 8th, 2010 at 2:08 pm

   I loved this story. What an amazing, inspiring man!

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