Alonso arrived from Spain this Sunday and offered a press conference at the Jose Marti National Airport where she spoke of the warm welcome they received from the Spanish audiences as well as the coverage from the mass media.

She praised the performances of the members of the company in sold-out theatres, and the energy and discipline of the new dancers, despite the rigours of the tour that took them to 29 Spanish cities.

They all felt gratified by the shows of love and respect in every theatre, and the experts appraisals of the academic training of the dancers, who played several roles in each performance, she said.

Alonso said that the doble characterization by each dancer is unusual in these times in the ballet world.

She proudly showed the World Theater Ambassador title she was presented with at the Calderon Theater in the city of Valladolid; and spoke of the Spanish street named after her.

"It was very beautiful to see the new company members to dance and the requests we received for teachers" and added that the Cuban dancing style is something that draws attention abroad.

Alsonso said that they had welcomed the news of four members of the National ballet selected among the top 100 ballet dancers in the world: Viengsay Valdés, Alejandro Virelles, Dani Hernández and Osiel Gounod.

She expressed her disappointment though when she added that stars as Anette Delgado and Sadaisi Arencibia were not chosen, showing a clear preference for male leading dancers, something she dubbed unfair.