Alonso, Alicia (Alicia Martinez) (älē`syä älōn`sō, märtē`nās), 1921–, Cuban ballerina and choreographer, b. Havana. Alonso danced in Broadway musicals before becoming a soloist with several leading companies, including the American Ballet Theatre, in 1939. She had a huge repertoire and was best known for her work in Giselle and in Agnes de Mille's Fall River Legend. Her own works include La Tinaja, Ensayos Sinfonicos, and Lidia, all created for the company she and her husband founded in 1948, which after the 1959 revolution became the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Alonso suffered a detached retina at 19, built a stellar career in spite of her failing vision, and, although almost blind, continued to direct her company into the 21st cent.

Alonso, Alicia

orig. Alicia Martínez Hoyo

Alicia Alonso, 1955.

(credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (neg. no. LC-USZ62-115331))

(born Dec. 21, 1921, Havana, Cuba) Cuban ballerina, choreographer, and director. She studied in Havana and New York, where she danced with Ballet Theatre (later American Ballet Theatre; 1940–41, 1943–48, 1950–55, 1958–59). In 1948 she formed her own company, Ballet Alicia Alonso (renamed Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1959), with which she performed frequently on tour in Latin America. Despite failing eyesight, she continued for many years to dance leading roles as a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre and other companies.