Britain's Royal Ballet set for rare Cuban shows

Nearly 100 dancers from Britain's Royal Ballet have arrived in Havana for a series of sold-out shows beginning this week.

Company administrators told reporters Saturday that 150 people, including 96 dancers, made the trip from London for the rare engagement. It is the Royal Ballet's first visit to Cuba in the troupe's nearly 80-year history.

The Communist country has not hosted a foreign ballet in about three decades. 

With the first show to be staged Tuesday, the performances will include the company offering an homage to iconic Cuban ballet star Alicia Alonso, with Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta taking the stage.

The 88-year-old Alonso has led the Cuban national ballet since the 1960s. Acosta, principal guest dancer with the Royal Ballet, was her former student.

Three performances will take place at the Gran Teatro in Central Havana before moving to the Karl Marx Teatro for the final two. Video screens outside the Gran Teatro will show four of the performances.

According to Cuban officials, tickets sold out "in a matter of hours" — quickly snatched up by dance-loving Cubans eager to see the international troupe and witness the return of Acosta.