SUMMARY 2017: Scenic Arts, the Big Show

A year of finished anniversaries, of national celebrations, of big shows. We summarize what happened in the scenic arts in 2017.

On January 22^nd, the actress and directress Fátima Patterson was awarded with the National Prize for Theater 2017. Born in Santiago de Cuba in 1951, she is the founder of Macubá, one of the most relevant theater groups. She is also an essential figure within the art of scenic orality. The National Prize for Theater acknowledged her commitment with the development of scenic arts in the eastern region, where Fátima Patterson is an unquestionable beacon.

The choreographer and director of the National Folkloric Group of Cuba, Manolo Micler won the National Prize for Dance 2017. The dancer, professor and choreographer outstand for his career, merits and distinctive creations for the Cuban scene. Director of the National Folkloric Group of Cuba, he has been known for his perseverance, hard work, and creative vocation.

The National Folkloric Group in fact celebrated its 55^th anniversary with several presentations in Havana. Another important Cuban company, the Ballet of Camagüey, reached in December its 50^th anniversary. A long season had as main scenario the Principal Theater of Camagüey, with the participation of several companies, like that of Rosario Cárdenas, the Contemporary Ballet of Camagüey and the Folkloric Ballet of that city.

The National Ballet of Cuba remembered the centenary of its founding choreographer: Alberto Alonso. This year also turned 60 years old the premiere of the ballet Carmen, the most outstanding work of the national choreography. To celebrate the anniversary, the company ran by Alicia Alonso offered a season of that ballet, where young dancers from the company made their debut.

The Contemporary Dance of Cuba finished this year at the Great Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso one of its greatest shows: Carmina Burana, choreography of George Céspedes, in a show accompanied by the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba and the National Choir. This was unquestionably one of the greatest events of the year.

During the summer, the National Circus celebrated the International Festival Circuba which has become the most significant in the region. Later in the year, some of the participants gave a tour through almost all Cuban provinces which became one of the main options for the summer.

In October 20-29 took place one of the most important encounters in the scenic arts in Cuba: The International Theater Festival of Havana, under the slogan Theater, Society, Resistance. Artists and shows from over a dozen of countries met in the theaters of Havana. Besides the scenic proposals, there was an important theoretical program. The main companies of Cuba offered their most recent plays.

The Aquelarre Humor Festival; Grand Prix Vladimir Malakov, in Holguín; the season Para Bailar en Casa del Trompo, in Santa Clara; Festival of Young Theater; next to the premieres of many of our companies marked an intense itinerary for scenic arts in 2017.