Loipa Araujo (Cuba)

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Lead Teacher and Associate Artistic Director of the English National Ballet

Defined by the famous English critic Arnold Haskell as one of the jewels of Cuban ballet, Loipa Araújo is currently one of the most relevant personalities of the Cuban ballet school and of Cuban national culture.

In 1948, she began her studies at the Ballet School of the Sociedad Pro-Arte Musical de La Habana, under the direction of Alberto Alonso and Leon Fokine and continued at the Alicia Alonso Ballet Academy, with Alicia Alonso, Fernando Alonso, Leon Fokine, José Parés and other outstanding professors. In 1955, he began his brilliant professional career by joining the cast of the now National Ballet of Cuba.

From 1967 to 1997 she held the rank of First Dancer, with which she performed in the most important theaters and cities of America, Europe and Asia.

His repertoire, as the leading figure, has included the leading roles of the great romantic-classical tradition of the last century, as well as in contemporary works by Cuban and foreign choreographers.

She has been a Guest Artist of important international dance companies and events, among which are: the Celeste Ballet, San Francisco (1958) and the Greek Theater of Los Angeles (1957-59), United States; Ballet of the Opera and Ballet Theater of Sofia and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria (1971); Ballets de Marseille, France (1973-1976-1981); Odessa and Kiev Opera Ballets (1973); Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow (1975), and Maligot Theater, of Leningrad, Soviet Union (1977); Royal Danish Ballet (1975); Ballet of the Theater of Fine Arts, Mexico (1976); Nice Opera, France (1977), International Ballet of Caracas, Venezuela (1977); Lausanne International Ballet Festival, Switzerland (1977); World Festival of Japan (1979); of the International Dance Galas of Santander, Spain and Verona, Italy (1980); Ballet Béjart of Lausanne, Switzerland (1989); Palma de Mallorca International Music and Dance Festival, Spain (1990); Edinburgh Festival, Great Britain (1991); and the Melbourne Arts Festival, Australia (1992). She was also First Guest Dancer of the Marseille Ballet Roland Petit (1973-1978).

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For her relevant artistic work, she has won important international awards, including: Gold Medal from the International Ballet Competition of Varna, Bulgaria (1965); Silver Medal of the Moscow International Ballet Competition, Soviet Union (1969); "Gold Star" Award, from the International Dance Festival of Paris, France (1970) and the Medal of the Brazilian Dance Council (1990); Honorary plaque (named Godmother of Honor), Association of Art and Culture, Cultural Center of Buenos Aires, Argentina .; National Order of the Legion of Honor. Knight's Degree, French Republic, 2010.

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In her role as an outstanding pedagogue, which she has developed simultaneously with her performance as a performer, she has been for more than three decades Principal Teacher of the National Ballet of Cuba, Founding Professor of the National School of Art of Cuba and Member of the Commissions Specialists of the Directorate of Artistic Education of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, from where he has contributed to the training of new generations of dancers and the consolidation of the Cuban ballet school, today recognized worldwide by the public and specialized critics. In 1987 he was conferred the title of Adjunct Professor of the Faculty of Dancing Art of the Higher Institute of Art of Cuba.

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She has also been a Guest Teacher of famous companies from abroad, among them: Los Ballets de Marsella, by Roland Petit, France (1973-1976 and 1981); the Ballet of Fine Arts of Mexico (1976-2001); the Opera of Marseille, France (1977); the Chair of the Americas, Spain (1988); Ballet of the Avignon Opera, France (1988-89); the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Switzerland (1988-1989); the Opera Ballet of Rome, Italy (1990-1992); Ballet of the Grand Theater of Bordeaux, France (1992-1994); from the Teatro alla Scala in Milan (1993-1997; 2000-2003 and 2005); Maggio Musicale Florentino Theater, Italy (2001); of the San Carlo Theater, Naples (2003); from the Colón Theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1997-1998); of the Ballet of the Opera House of Paris, France (1998-2004-2006); from the Ballet of Washington, United States (2000); Teatro Communale di Firenze, Italy (2001); from the Bolshoi Ballet (2006, 2007); the Royal Danish Ballet (2002-2008); Association of Art and Culture, Buenos Aires (2001-2004); Dominican Republic. Guest Maitre d of the Dance Teachers selection. (2006); Ballet of the Municipal Theater of Santiago de Chile (2003); Royal Ballet of London, Great Britain (2002-2003 and 2005-2011); Royal Danish Ballet (2004, 2006, 2007). Higher Institute of Dance "Alicia Alonso". Rey Juan Carlo University, Madrid. (2005-2011).

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In her dual role as dancer and pedagogue, she has worked with figures from the category of Maia Plisétskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Karen Kain, Elizabetta Therabust, Alexandra Ferri Julie Kent. She has also been a teacher-essayist and maître d 'for international stars such as Maximiliano Guerra, Tamara Rojo, Agnès Letestu, José Martínez, and all the stars of the Paris Opera; as well as leading figures from the Royal Ballet of London, and other leading performers.

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She is currently the Head Teacher and rehearser for the English National Ballet, where she also serves as Associate Artistic Director.