Master Adolfo Roval, 2019 National Dance Prize, Dies

July 26, 2021

Master Adolfo Roval, an outstanding figure in ballet and 2019 National Dance Prize winner, passed away in Havana at the age of 91.

According to a press release from the National Ballet of Cuba, he was born in Cruces, province of Cienfuegos, on September 18, 1929 and from a very young age he settled in the country's capital, where in 1952 he began studying at the Alicia Alonso Ballet School.

He joined the Ballet of Cuba in 1954 and in 1957 collaborated in the creation of a professional ballet group in Puerto Rico, under the direction of José Parés.

According to the information, in 1959 he joined the reconstituted National Ballet of Cuba, where he achieved the rank of soloist, for his performances in roles such as the Jester in "Swan Lake", Mama Simone and Alain in "La fille mal gardée", and Dr. Coppelius in "Coppélia", for whose interpretation he received recognition from international critics.

He performed alongside prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso in several of these works, in memorable performances.

Adolfo Roval participated in 1967 in the creation of the Ballet of Camagüey and his pedagogical work extended to other countries, in institutions such as the Ballet of Fine Arts of Mexico City; the Ballet of Cali in Colombia; Les Ballets du Rhin, in France; and the Yantra Artistic Center in Brussels.

Likewise, he taught ballet classes and Dance History at the Alicia Alonso Dance Chair, predecessor of the Alicia Alonso Institute of Dance at Rey Juan Carlos University, in Spain, where he also shared his knowledge.

For his extraordinary merits in this scenic art form and his intense teaching work, he was awarded in 2019 the National Dance Prize, granted by the Ministry of Culture of Cuba.

Adolfo Roval was a very beloved and admired person, not only by his countless students throughout the world, but also by his colleagues and friends, noted the National Ballet of Cuba in its statement.