Cuba-China Ballet Friendship Gala on Tuesday and Wednesday in Havana

On the occasion of Chinese President, Xi Jinping’s visit to the island, the program includes a fragment of the famous 19th century classic Giselle, various pas de deux, such as Don Quixote, Esmeralda, Le Corsaire, Danzantes and Sacrifice. Cuban prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés is schedule to dance the Don Quixote pas de deux with Chinese partner Mao Xiadon, while Cuban first dancer Dani Hernández will dance the Giselle excerpt with China’s Zhang Jian.

The program includes Chinese artists Wang Ye and Su Ruichen dancing a Ben Stevenson version of the Esmeralda pas de deux, while Qiu Yunting and Zhang Yao will perform the dramatic contemporary piece Sacrifice by Chinese choreographer Fei Bo.