Alonso, Alicia (1921-2019), was a Cuban ballet dancer, choreographer (dance creator), director, and teacher. She became one of the greatest dancers in the history of ballet. Alonso became internationally famous for her leading roles in such Classical and Romantic ballets as Giselle (1841), Swan Lake (1877), and Sleeping Beauty (1890), as well as modern ballets, such as Lilac Garden (1936), Undertow (1945), Theme and Variations (1947), and Fall River Legend (1948). In 1948, Alonso founded the Alicia Alonso Ballet Company in Cuba, which later became the National Ballet of Cuba. She directed several works for this company, including restaging such classics as Giselle.
Alonso was born on Dec. 21, 1921, in Havana, Cuba. Her given name was Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad del Cobre Martínez y del Hoyo. She began taking ballet lessons at the age of 9 and first performed publicly soon thereafter. At the age of 16, she married Fernando Alonso, a fellow ballet student. The couple moved to New York City in 1937. The Alonsos divorced in 1975. Alicia Alonso made her professional debut in the chorus of the musical comedy Great Lady (1938).
Alonso joined the Ballet Caravan as a soloist in 1939. The company was a predecessor to the New York City Ballet, which was formed in 1948. Alonso first gained fame as a leading dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, where she performed for much of the time from 1940 to 1960. In the late 1940’s, Alonso established a famous ballet partnership with the Russian dancer Igor Youskevitch.
Alonso suffered from eye problems since she was young, and had only partial vision throughout her career. She continued dancing until she was into her 70’s in spite of being nearly blind. Alonso died on Oct. 17, 2019.
