Lizt Herrera Alfonso

Dancer, artistic director, choreographer and Cuban teacher. Creator of Ballet Lizt Alfonso, also known outside of Cuba by the names Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba and Lizt Alfonso Danza Cuba. She was a dancer in the group and currently serves as director, choreographer and teacher. Named in 2011 cultural ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Lizt Alfonso has created her style, dance-fusion and a school, Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba School, which received, in 2016, the International Spotlight Award from the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and was presented to her at the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama. She has also created a Children's and Youth Ballet.

She received her first ballet classes at age 4; at 9 she created her first choreography and at 23 she founded her own company. Her inclination toward the arts in general was strongly marked by family influence. In her first attempt to enroll in the Ballet School of L and 19 she was suspended, supposedly for not having the conditions to be a dancer.

She created and has directed Ballet Lizt Alfonso, one of the most important dance companies in Cuba. The Folkloric Group of the Spanish Society Concepción Arenal and its dance academy, with more than 300 students.

It was under her direction, as well as the company Danzas Ibéricas of the Center for the Promotion of Dance in Cuba (Prodanza), the main predecessor of her current company, as well as the School of dance, ballet and acting of the Gran Teatro de La Habana.

She is the president of the jury for the Spanish Dance Choreographic Competition and the Summer Courses of that same genre, both organized annually by her company for children, young people and adults from Cuba and other countries.

In 2001, her company was selected to participate in the cultural delegation that accompanied President Fidel Castro on his final visit to Venezuela.

She was an active dancer in her company, in which she assumed principal roles until 1998. She participated as a dancer in many events from the beginning of her student life. Specialized critics have highlighted her particular way of dancing and her charisma.

Choreographer
She is the principal choreographer of Ballet Lizt Alfonso, developing very versatile work that includes various types and styles of dance.

She has choreographed all of her company's shows (one or two per year), which have been presented in the country and abroad with great success with audiences and specialized critics.

She has worked as a choreographer for other companies and institutions, such as the National Lyric Theater of Cuba and the Company Las Rozas, of Madrid, Spain.

The fusion of Spanish and Cuban dances in her choreographies has allowed her to create a repertoire of new style, which has been praised by relevant personalities in the world of dance and specialized critics, both in the country and abroad.

Teacher
She serves as principal teacher of her company, teaching classes in classical ballet, Spanish dance, flamenco and Cuban rhythms. She taught classes in the Folkloric Company of the Spanish Society Concepción Arenal. She has participated as a teacher in the International Courses of the Cuban School of Ballet (CUBALLET). She has collaborated as a teacher in other companies and institutions.

Parallel to the creation of her company, Lizt Alfonso founded a dance academy for the training of her future dancers. She took the initiative to create the only Spanish Dance Choreographic Competition that exists in Cuba and which is held annually.

Furthermore, she conducts intensive courses each summer for children, young people and adults interested in the knowledge and study of her style. Both events are held annually at the Gran Teatro de La Habana and since 2000 the summer courses have been extended to other provinces in the country such as Santa Clara and Ciego de Ávila.

Professional Training
Higher Institute of Art (ISA). Theater Studies (1985–1990).
Alejo Carpentier Ballet School, Havana (1976–1982).
Spanish Dance School of the Gran Teatro de La Habana (1982–1985).
Folkloric Group of the Spanish Society Concepción Arenal (1985–1990).

Shows She Has Created and Directed
Ballet Lizt Alfonso
Between Palms and Songs (1992),
Al–Andalus: of Gypsies and Duende (1995).
Habaneras: the Flight of the Dove (1995).
Glimmer of Light (1996).
Suite Andalucía (1997).
Sincerely F.G.L. (1998).
Silhouettes (1999).
Strength and Rhythm (2000).
Elements (2002).

Awards and Recognitions
Dora Award in Toronto for Best Choreography in a Musical for her show "Vida" (2008).
She received the Choreography Award from the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba for her presentation: "Sincerely FGL".
Diploma of Honor for the 160th Anniversary of the Gran Teatro de La Habana.
The cities of Santa Clara and Ciego de Ávila granted her recognition as Illustrious Daughter.
The city of Holguín conferred upon her the Shield of the city.
She is a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba.
She was decorated with the Order for National Culture of Cuba.
Named in 2011 cultural ambassador of the United Nations Organization for Children (UNICEF).
2016 Replica of the Machete Mambí.

Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba is the first dance company that has performed from Cuba at the Latin Grammy Awards, at the 2015 Gala, held at the MGM Grand Arena.

Lizt choreographed for her company the BAILANDO music video, a worldwide hit by Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, directed by Alejandro Pérez.

Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba was the first Cuban company to present an entire season at the New Victory Theatre, on 42nd Street and Broadway, in 2003, an experience that she repeated in 2015.

Source: Ecured