14ymedio, Havana, 29 December 2016 – Cuban Faces of 2016: Viengsay Valdés has been First Ballerina of the National Ballet of Cuba since 2001, after a 15 year career that began in the Alejo Carpentier Provincial Ballet School. During the Special Period, this young woman with her exotic name, which in Laotian means “victory,” graduated with a Gold Degree from the National School of Art.
Valdés has been guest star in the most prestigious ballet companies in the world, such as the Marinski Theater Ballet in St. Petersburg; The Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow; The Royal Danish Ballet; and the Royal Ballet of London. This year she especially stood out during his performances in the 25th edition of the International Ballet Festival of Havana, celebrated between October 28 and November 6.
A comprehensive tour of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia completed her agenda in 2016. Mid-year she played the character of Kitri for a season of the classic Don Quixote. Critics say that it is the most emblematic role of the extensive repertoire of the ballerina.
