logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2022
10m 54s

Founder of the Cuban National Ballet

Bbc World Service
About this episode

We go back to 1959 when Cuba’s most famous ballet dancer Alicia Alonso turned her back on a successful career on the world stage and returned home to form Cuba’s National Ballet Company.

She spoke to Mike Lanchin in 2015.

(Photo: Alicia Alonso. Credit: Alicia Alonso)

Up next
Apr 2025
The Cu Chi tunnels of the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese VietCong guerrillas built a vast network of tunnels in the south of the country as part of the insurgency against the South Vietnamese government and their American allies. The tunnel network was a key base and shelter for the North Vietna ... Show More
9m 43s
Today
Star Trek: America's first interracial TV kiss
In 1968, American television boldly went where it had never gone before, broadcasting what's claimed to be the country's first interracial kiss in a TV programme. The moment of passion was between Captain Kirk of the starship USS Enterprise and communications officer Lieutenant U ... Show More
10m 47s
Apr 2026
The world's first perfume archive
On 26 April 1990, the world's first perfume archive opened in Versailles, France.The idea behind L'Osmothèque was to create a collection of scents and preserve their memory.Perfumer Jean Claude Ellena was one of the team who created it.He speaks to Jen Dale about how L'Osmothèque ... Show More
10m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Alicia Alonso: Ballerina
<p>Meet Alicia Alonso, a nearly blind Cuban prima ballerina WHO stunned audiences around the world with her incredible talents. Alicia dedicated her life to her craft; even WHEN she was recovering from eye surgery and couldn't see, she would practice her routines with her fingers ... Show More
26m 49s
Jun 2025
Misty Copeland Changed Ballet. Now She's Ready to Move On.
The American Ballet Theater’s first Black female principal dancer on everything she’s fought for and the decision to end her historic career with the company. 
42m 44s
Sep 2002
Dame Alicia Markova
Dame Alicia Markova was born Lilian Alice Marks in December 1910, in a two-bedroom flat in Finsbury Park, London. She began ballet classes because she was flat footed and knock kneed. Her natural talent, when she was ten, was spotted by Diaghilev, the Russian artistic impresario ... Show More
43m 43s
Jan 2019
Behind the Scenes: Marianela Nunez at Covent Garden
As she prepares to perform two roles in a new production of the classic "White ballet", La Bayadere, the Royal Ballet's charismatic Argentinian-born principal dancer, Marianela Nunez shares her life behind the scenes. Marianela Nunez is considered one of the greatest ballerinas i ... Show More
28m 56s
Apr 2022
Misty Copeland on Her Own Terms
Anita Hill interviews ballet dancer Misty Copeland about her experience in the predominantly white ballet world, her leading role at American Ballet Theatre, and how she built a career on her own terms. If you’d like to keep up with the most recent news from this and other Pushki ... Show More
32m 56s
Sep 2015
Buena Vista Social Club
In 1996 a group of veteran musicians made an album that changed the image of Cuban music for ever. Some of the artists had come out of retirement for the occasion. Laoud-player, Barbarito Torres, remembers that ground-breaking recording session in Havana and his excitement at pla ... Show More
9m 1s
Nov 2020
Episode 29: The Dancer
When Carlos Acosta was a kid, he wanted to be the next Michael Jackson. He spent all his time break-dancing in the streets of Havana. Until one day, when his father decided to put Carlos in a ballet class. This Is Love is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. If you haven’t alre ... Show More
23m 29s