A scene from ‘Le Corsaire.’
The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami (CCBM), under the artistic direction of Eriberto Jiménez, returns to the Miami-Dade County Auditorium on Saturday to offer “Le Corsaire Suite”, the fourth program of its 2001-2022 season.
“Le Corsaire” (“Le Corsaire”) is a one-night ballet. In other words, it occupies an entire performance. It is inspired by the homonymous poem by Lord Byron and created in 1856 at the Paris Opera, with music by Adolphe Adam and choreography by Joseph Mazilier.
No one remembers the original choreography and the music includes additions by other composers such as Cesare Pugni, Léo Delibes and Ricardo Drigo.
Sometimes the ballet is presented in its entirety, based on versions made in Russia by Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa. On other occasions, it is presented as a sequel. CCBM succeeded in both directions. And some of his most famous scenes and pas de deux appear frequently in concerts.
“The Corsair”, tells the story of Conrad and Medora, the captain of a privateer ship and a beautiful slave woman. In this unique performance with guest dancers, Conrad will be interpreted by Humberto Rivera Blanco and Medora by Marize Fumero.
Other important roles will be played by Ihosvany González (Ali, Conrad’s slave), Katherine Barkman (Gulnara, Medora’s friend) and Jorge Oscar Sánchez, as a slave trader.
The CCBM’s “Le Corsaire Suite” promises to bring together all the great moments of ballet. Like his two pas de deux, the famous “The Animated Garden” and the pas de trois of the odalisques.
It should be noted that “The Animated Garden” – with music by Frenchman Delibes – has been part of “Le Corsaire” since 1868, but the famous “Le Corsaire Pas de Deux” – as it appears in concert galas – it is a creation of Agrippina Vaganova dating from 1931. In short, each fragment of “Le Corsaire” has its story.
In addition, it should be remembered that Pedro Pablo Peña created the CCBM in 2007 “with the mission of promoting and preserving the repertoire, technique and style of classical ballet, as evidenced by the famous Cuban school of ballet”, as stated in the press release. .
Peña knew the dance world in Cuba from having been part of it before moving to the United States and designed the group based on two considerations: (1) ballet is the preferred type of theatrical dance of Cubans, and (2) Cubans don’t mind going to see the same piece over and over, especially if it’s a classic title.
Because the most important thing is the cast, and one of the favorite pastimes of those who attend the presentations of the National Ballet of Cuba has always been to compare the performances of the artists.
Insofar as, instead of identifying the work by the name of the choreographer or the composer of the music, the most common way of doing so is, for example, to refer to “the ‘Giselle’ of [name of the protagonist].”
The above makes Cubans a very knowledgeable audience, who appreciate without any problem the extroverted virtuosity of the Cuban School of Ballet while paying attention to the details that enrich individual performances. It’s a very particular -and funny- situation: everyone is a fan, and everyone is a critic.
For those who are Cuban, this revival of “Le Corsaire Suite” is an opportunity to become both things again. And for those who aren’t, it’s an invitation to spend a great Saturday night – good art is also entertainment – with one of CCBM’s most successful programs.
“El Corsario Suite” by the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami will be presented on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Miami Dade County Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at www.cubanclassicalballetofmiami.org, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or at the theater box office.
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