Dancers Without Borders

Last month, as the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami geared up for its spring gala tribute performance of Sergei Diaghilev’s “Ballets Russes,” a compilation of famed early 20th-century Russian pieces, a welcome monkey wrench was thrown into the preparations. On June 7, seven dancers from the National Ballet of Cuba defected in Puerto Rico and then, with a week’s worth of rehearsal, joined the Cuban Classical Ballet troupe in Miami for its June 14 evening. Now it’s happening again: Another defector, Jaime Reytor, will debut with the Miami company, under the direction of Pedro Pablo Peña, for more Russian classics this weekend. Two entwined cultures will come together for “Greatest Selections of Russian Ballet,” showing off the close ballet traditions of Cuba and Russia and the even closer people on both sides of the Florida Straits divided for a half-century. At 5 p.m. Sunday at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium (2901 W. Flagler St., Miami), Reytor, the other recent exiles, and Russian prima ballerina Katherina Markowski will be featured in a program that will include The Dying Swan, Le Carnival, Scheherazade, The Firebird, and other crowd favorites.
Sun., July 27, 5 p.m., 2014