CBYE Media Releases

All media inquiries or publications about a student's involvement must have the approval from the Artistic Director of the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble. Permission must be sought for any publicity events or media interviews. All written publications and photographs must be approved before they are released.

June 24, 2010
Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble initiates cultural tours in Guardalavaca, Cuba
Guardalavaca, Cuba - Anything can happen when eight individuals barely acquainted with one another book a tour to a destination previously unexplored in Cuba, the Caribbean's most beautiful island. Initially everyone wondered what the experience would be like.
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June 23, 2010
Colonial treasures, culture and people beckon travelers to World Heritage City
Havana is a veritable moving feast. Beautiful, friendly, engaging people. Magnificent modern and colonial buildings. Wonderful restaurants. Superb night life. A busy, busy, busy world-class city. Noisy as all hell. Delightfully noisy. Never annoyingly so but rather noisy with the contagious rhythm of the ever-present palm trees gently swaying to the pulsating beat of Havana's warm Caribbean breeze.
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June 22, 2010
Havana's Melia Cohiba Hotel. A superb choice on a return visit
January 2010 seemed so long ago. So far away. For the 172 Canadians arriving at the elegant, five-star Meliá Cohiba hotel, Cuba's weather conditions were absolutely unusual. We had just left Toronto's sub-zero winter. We had travelled to the island with the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble for their first-ever ballet performance at the world-famous Gran Teatro. We expected hot, Caribbean sunshine. It was not to be.
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March 5, 2010
Hansel and Gretel
Ballet Hansel y Gretel, María Elena López Reyes, Cuban Vice Minister of Tourism, Cuban diplomats and Hamilton representatives attend ballet and other activities in Hamilton on February 26, 2010.
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March 1, 2010
Hamilton Celebrates Family Day, Dancers' Performance in Havana
The city of steel had ample reasons to be in a festive mood. Hamilton commemorated Canada's Family Day. It welcomed a distinguished delegation of Cuban government officials. It opened its heart to the members of the world-famous Cuban National Ballet. It demonstrated its pride for the awesome accomplishments of the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble.
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February 19, 2010
Cuban choreographer's beWitching ballet
Good things come in small packages. Take Eduardo Blanco as a case in point. At 5-foot-3, Blanco was too short to really make it as a ballet Prince.Never mind, disappointed or not, the young Cuban lad found his way into choreography. --> more

February 11, 2010
Hansel and Gretel: Merecido Homenaje a la Familia Celebra Triunfo en La Habana
Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Elenco Juvenil del Ballet de Canadá Actúan en Hamilton Place.
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February 8, 2010
Hansel and Gretel: A homecoming and a celebration of family values in Hamilton
Mark your calendars. The performances of the classic ballet Hansel and Gretel by the Cuban National Ballet and the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble at Hamilton Place on February 26 is shaping out as a truly emotional, unforgettable event.
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February 3, 2010
A shared passion for dance
From Canada to Cuba, Connie's three-part special airs tonight, tomorrow and Friday on Always Good News on CTS Television at 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
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January 15, 2010
The Nutcracker: A Cuban-Canadian Love Affair
Havana – It was a remarkable moment. More so because it was absolutely unexpected. Wonderful. Genuine. Delightful. Truly emotional.
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January 13, 2010
Cuban and Canadian ballerinas perform together (China.org)
Canadian and Cuban ballerinas have tiptoed across the stage of Havana's Grand Theatre together, in a joint production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker". The production was choreographed by the partially blind matriarch of Cuban ballet, 89-year-old Alicia Alonso.
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January 11, 2010
Cuba Ballet Performs The Nutcracker
HAVANA TIMES, — The Cuban National Ballet —beginning the year at its best— this past weekend presented The Nutcracker (in its complete version).
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January 11, 2010
Cuban National Ballet Company and Canadian Children in the Nutcracker
The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble (CBYE) and Cuba’s National ballet Company (BNC), interpretated The Nutcracker at the García Lorca Hall of Havana’s Grand Theater, as part of a cooperation project.
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January 10, 2010
Cuban National Ballet Company and Canadian Children in the Nutcracker
HAVANA, Cuba.- The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble (CBYE) and Cuba’s National ballet Company (BNC), will interpret The Nutcracker this weekend at the García Lorca Hall of Havana’s Grand Theater, as part of a cooperation project.
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January 10, 2010
Nacional de Cuba y Ballet de Canadá (CBYE) en Cascanueces
La Habana, 9 ene (RHC-AIN) Como parte de un proyecto de colaboración El Elenco Juvenil del Ballet de Canadá (CBYE) y el Ballet Nacional de Cuba (BNC), interpretan Cascanueces, en la sala García Lorca del Gran Teatro de La Habana.
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January 9, 2010
Dallas Morning News - AP photo
Dancers from Hamilton's Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble and Cuba's National Ballet perform The Nutcracker in Havana, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010..
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January 9, 2010
The Nutcracker: a Ballet to Dream About
Every time the ballet The Nutcracker returns to the stage of the García Lorca Hall of Havana’s Grand Theater around this time of year, we recognize that Tchaikovsky’s last score brims with joy, it regales the members of the audience with the wish to live, and of course it catches both the public and the dancers.
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January 2010
Un ballet para soñar (A ballet to dream about)
Spanish media -- mentions the performance of the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble in The Nutcracker.
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December 2009
From Cuba with love
Belma Diamante is on a mission: to popularize ballet.
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December 2009
Grimsby youth take to the stage in The Nutcracker
Hamilton performances will be followed by show in Cuba.
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November 20, 2009
100 Niños Canadienses Bailan en Hamilton y La Habana
Ballet Nacional de Cuba Preestrena Clásico Cascanueces .
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November 17, 2009
Canadian children taste stardom in classic ballet The Nutcracker with the Cuban National Ballet
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November 14, 2009
Nutcracker kids anxiously await their Havana trip
Gary Smith, The Hamilton Spectator - When other kids are dreaming of rifling Christmas stockings, a quintette of area youngsters will be thinking of The Nutcracker and Cuba. That's because they're dancing this holiday ballet in Hamilton and Havana. Along with fellow mice and party folk, these Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble members will be among the first Canadian dancers to appear on Havana's Grand Teatro stage.
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November 6, 2009
The Nutcracker at Hamilton Place
Cuban National Ballet and Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble Present a Most Special Christmas Classic
Hamilton - It is all about candy canes and sugar plums. It is all about fairies and princesses. It is all about dancing snowflakes, floating as softly and as effortless as delicate feathers blown in the winter breeze. It is about legions of mice delightfully battling each other. It is all about that and much more. Lots more!
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November 1, 2009
Lester Tomé dictates two conferences on Alicia Alonso
Responding to a special invitation issued by Belma Gurdil-Diamante (CEO, Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble), Lester Tomé, eminent art critic and professor of dance history and theory at various US Universities, will arrive in Canada to deliver a Ballet talk and a Ballet Conference on a subject most dear to his heart and mind.
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November 2009
The Nutcracker at Hamilton Place
It is all about candy canes and sugar plums. It is all about fairies and princesses. It is all about that and much more. Lots more!
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Dance in Cuba Over the Holidays
January 4–11, 2010
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October 27, 2009
The Washington Post Review about Cuba's prima ballerina Viengsay Valdes:
The role of Kitri calls for more jumps than just about any other classical part, and Valdes's flights in space were tireless -- and huge.
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October 2009
A Gala Evening
with Alicia Alonso and Stars of the Cuban National Ballet at the Living Arts Centre
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August 28, 2009
Bringing back the Tivoli - $15m restoration campaign
In a few weeks, the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble will launch a $15-million capital campaign to restore the historic theatre, which has sat empty since its partial collapse five years ago.
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May 19, 2009
Primicia en Norteamérica
Escuela de Ballet de Cuba inicia clases en Hamilton afiliada al elenco juvenil del Ballet Canadiense.
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May 14, 2009
Cuban School of Ballet starts affiliation with Hamilton’s Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble
Cuba is about to export to Canada one of its most precious cultural patrimonies and Hamilton is delighted to have it. In fact, Hamilton is bursting with pride after accomplishing a unique coup in the world of ballet.
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April 15, 2009
Tourism boosters share honours
Arts and Entertainment Ambassador: Belma Gurdil-Diamante, Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble.
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April 7, 2009
Hamilton Tourism Presents Belma Gurdil-Diamante its 2009 Arts and Entertainment Ambassador Award --> more

April 7, 2009
Nutcracker Festival
Wins Hamilton Tourism's 2009 Festival of the Year Award with a special honourable mention in the program.
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April 6, 2009
Turismo Hamilton Concede a Belma Gurdil-Diamante --> more

February 16, 2009
Celebrating the Family Spirit - Cuban National Ballet Performs Hansel and Gretel at Hamilton Place
Hansel and Gretel is a unique, unusual fairy tale. It defies time and imagination.--> more

December 12, 2008
This Nutcracker is a brilliant, evocative gift
If I were Santa Claus I'd give everyone tickets to the Cuban Nutcracker. It's at Hamilton Place tonight and this weekend, and it shouldn't be missed.--> more

December 12, 2008
More than 101 reasons to see this weekend’s Nutcracker
The world-renown Cuban National Ballet is poised to delight audiences of all ages at Hamilton Place this weekend.--> more

December 10, 2008
Cuba's shining star
Young dancer leaps to fame in Nutcracker The laughter and the tears .--> more

December 6, 2008
The Cuban Connection
Ballet may be a dance of the well-heeled and refined in Canada, but down in Cuba it's as hot as Havana nights. For the second consecutive year, that fiery brand of ballet will come to Hamilton as the Cuban National Ballet presents its only North American performance of The Nutcracker --> more

December 6, 2008
Patricia Karen Gagic at Artcracker
International Painter, Cuban National Ballet Share Magic Evening at Hamilton Place --> more

December 4, 2008
Sella 60 Aniversario con Broche de Oro
Ballet Nacional de Cuba Estrena en Hamilton --> more

November 24, 2008
Christmas Joy at Hamilton Place - Cuban National Ballet Celebrates Festival Season with the Nutcracker
Hamilton – It promises to be one of the best performances ever of The Nutcracker. The lavish fairy tale traditionally linked with the Christmas holidays arrives in Hamilton in all its splendour and in a festive mood in less than three weeks --> more

November 24, 2008
Cascanueces en Hamilton Place - Ballet Nacional de Cuba Cierra 60 Aniversario con Broche de Oro --> more

November 17, 2008
The Nutcracker - On Sale Now! The Nutcracker... Season’s Greetings from Cuba to Hamilton – It is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It is certainly beginning to look like the start of a marvellous tradition. For the second consecutive year Cuba sends to Hamilton its most treasured cultural expression --> more

October 16, 2008
Around Town Frank Silvestri and Lea Silvestri hosted an Evening of Elegance in honour of prima ballerina Alicia Alonso, known for her role as Giselle --> more

October 10, 2008
Gala Ballet Fundraiser Frank and Lea Silvestri of Ancaster hosted a gala fundraiser recently for the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble and the National Ballet of Cuba. The two national ballet companies will collaborate next February for Hansel and Gretel, on stage at Hamilton Place --> more

October 6, 2008
An Evening of Elegance Alicia Alonso was honoured at a gala event in Hamilton on Friday. Part diva and part legend, the 88-year-old prima ballerina is celebrating 60 years as founder, principal dancer and artistic director of the National Ballet of Cuba. She is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Alonso and her troupe of 60 Cuban dancers performed Giselle at Hamilton Place yesterday and Saturday --> more

October 8, 2008
Sometimes in the blink of an eye there's genius --> more

September 29, 2008
Cuban dance legend brings her story to York fine arts students --> more

August 11, 2008
Ballet head sees Tivoli rising again --> more

April 25, 2008
Dancing his way into kids' hearts --> more

November 28, 2007
Alicia Alonso y el Ballet Nacional de Cuba Desborde de entusiasmo en Hamilton por su visita --> more

November 25, 2007
Alicia Is Coming! Alicia Is Coming! Enthusiasm Overflows in Hamilton with visit of Alicia Alonso, National Cuban Ballet --> more

November 25, 2007
CBYE Acoge mundialmente conocido Ballet de Cuba a Hamilton --> more

November 23, 2007
ARTCRACKER MEDIA UPDATE --> more

July 9, 2007
CBYE Welcomes World-Renowned Cuban Ballet to Hamilton --> more

May 7, 2007
Dance Auditions for the Nutcracker --> more

April 3, 2007
Cubans for Christmas --> more

December 8, 2006
A Sweet Treat --> more

December 6, 2006
Dancer Grows Up in Nutcracker --> more

December 4, 2006
CBYE to Allow Media Access to Historic Tivoli, Unveil Mural --> more

November 28, 2006
The Nutcracker Featuring The National Ballet of Cuba --> more

November 6, 2006
The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble Presents an All-Canadian Performance of the Nutcracker Ballet --> more

October 30, 2006
World Premiere Performance Takes the Stage in Hamilton - The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble Presents the Jazz Cracker --> more

September 7, 2006
The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble announces Evelyn Hart as their Artistic Advisor for Nutcracker 2006 --> more

June 7, 2003
Giller prize-winning author Austin Clarke is guest of honour at The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble fundraiser --> more