Viengsay Valdés Herrera

===BODY===
Prima Ballerina, she is considered one of the most solid values of the Cuban School of Ballet. She has been a guest artist of the Washington Ballet, in the United States, the Puerto Rico Concert Ballet, the Joburg Ballet of South Africa, the Bolshoi and the Mariinski, of Russia, among other companies. She has been named artistic subdirector of the National Ballet of Cuba.

She studied at the Provincial School of Ballet "Alejo Carpentier," beginning at age 9 and concluding in 1994 at the National School of Art, both in Havana, under the direction of distinguished teachers, among them, Ramona de Sáa and Mirta Hermida.

Parents: Roberto Valdés Muñoz; Clara Herrera Rivero.

Viengsay suffers from asthma and had been advised by her doctors that ballet was a very demanding discipline for her condition but, her strong personality made her overcome this illness.

During her student years she earned various awards and distinctions (Grand Prix of the National Dance Competition of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, UNEAC, and the Gold Medal at the Vignale Danza Festival, Italy).

She entered the BNC at the age of 17 and as a member of this group she has performed in important theaters in Europe, Latin America and the United States. Her repertoire includes leading and soloist roles in works of the great romantic-classical tradition, as well as contemporary creations by Cuban and foreign choreographers.

Prima ballerina, product of our art schools, is considered one of the most solid values of the Cuban School of Ballet. Her brilliant artistic career has been closely linked to performances both in Cuba and abroad.

She has appeared as a guest alongside important companies in international dance events including the VI Latin American Ballet Festival of Paraguay, the International Gala of Stars in Budapest, the International Festival Gala of Dessau Germany and the Gala of Stars of the 21st Century held in Paris. Her repertoire includes leading roles in important works in which she has danced as a protagonist and as a soloist.

In January 2019 she is named artistic subdirector of the National Ballet of Cuba.

Awards:
Gold Medal at the Vignale Danza Festival, Italy, (1993)
The Grand Prix of the National Dance Competition of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, (1994)
The Distinction "For National Culture" (1999).
The Medal "Alejo Carpentier," awarded by the State Council of the Republic of Cuba (2003)
Award for Female Performance (2009), awarded by the Association of Scenic Artists of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).
Raúl Gómez García Medal (2014).
Lorna Burdsall Dance Prize, (2015), conferred by the performing arts section of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). The Prize honors the memory of Lorna Burdsall (1928-2010), distinguished American dancer and choreographer based in Cuba in the 1950s, and winner here of the National Dance Prize 2008 and the National Prize for Artistic Teaching.
Replica of the Machete Mambí of Generalissimo Máximo Gómez (2017), awarded by the Revolutionary Armed Forces for being a bearer in her work of the most authentic patriotism and devotion to the Revolution.
Distinction for Cultural Merit. 2018, awarded by the National Academy of Song Mariana de Gonitch and the Russian embassy in Cuba.