• Submitted by: manso
• Arts and Culture
• 05 / 02 / 2011

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2011.05.01 - 09:14:40 /radiorebelde.icrt.cu. HAVANA, CUBA.- Alicia Alonso, director of the Cuban National Ballet, was nominated for the 2011 Prince of Asturias Award of Arts, which will be announced next Wednesday in Oviedo, northern Spain.

The Spanish news agency EFE said there are 34 proposals for this prize, the first of eight to be granted by the Prince of Asturias Foundation.

This recognition is awarded to the person, group of persons or institution whose work in architecture, film, dance, sculpture, music, painting and other arts constitutes a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of humanity.

The eight Prince of Asturias prizes, each endowed with 50,000 euros and a sculpture by Joan Miró, will be presented by Prince Felipe of Bourbon in a solemn ceremony in late October at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo.

Prima ballerina assoluta, dancer and choreographer Alicia Alonso is considered the most outstanding figure of ballet in Latin America and one of the great myths of dance in all its history.

During her artistic life she has received several national and international awards and in 2002 she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

On December 21 Alonso turned 90 years old and in her honor there were held many official and art tributes, which included those of the American Ballet Theatre, New York and the Royal Ballet of London.(ACN)