Viengsay Valdés Distinguished with Positano Dance Prize

September 6, 2020

Last Friday, Viengsay Valdés, prima ballerina and director of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (BNC), was honored in Italy with the Positano Prize for Dance Léonide Massine, in the category of best ballerina on the international stage. The jury of this prestigious award considered her the artistic heir of Alicia Alonso, which is also a tribute to the memory of that iconic figure of ballet worldwide.

The recognition is due to the high academic level, virtuoso technique, and intense stage presence that characterize the work of this artist, interpreter of all the great roles in the repertoire of this Caribbean land.

In awarding the prize, the jury took into account that Viengsay Valdés worked together with the Prima Ballerina Assoluta at the head of the BNC, and from 2019 onwards assumed the position of artistic director.

On this occasion, the jury was presided over by the director of the international magazine Ballet2000, Alfio Agostini, and comprised: Nina Loory, artistic director of the Benois de la Danse Prize; Brigitte Lefèvre, former director of the Ballet of the Paris Opera and artistic director of the Cannes Dance Festival; Laura Valente, general director of the Positano Prize for Dance, as well as critics Roger Salas, from the Spanish newspaper El País, and Valeria Crippa, from the Diario II coriere della Sera, published in Milan, Italy.

Furthermore, this year it was decided to award the special prize for an entire career to Anthony Dowell, danseur noble par excellence, undoubtedly the greatest classical male dancer of his generation.

Due to the epidemiological situation the world is experiencing because of covid-19, the prize organizers renounced the traditional gala, and chose instead to hold a virtual ceremony that will be broadcast today through social networks.

To do this, each winner was asked to send a video message and a compilation clip of some relevant performance moments from their careers.

The Positano Prize for Dance Léonide Massine is one of the highest honors to which a dancer can aspire.