Havana - Maya Plisetskaya was a dancer of much courage, recognized today Cuban Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso, who along with the Russian star marked ballet of the 20th century.

Both dancers were the model to follow by most of dancers worldwide in the second half of that century, they established solid technical and interpretive paradigms, and forged legends.

Plisetskaya was a prima ballerina, his name evokes prestige and was a very serious woman in her professional treatment, but never abrupt, and she always was friendly at least with me, Alonso told Prensa Latina.

The current director of the Cuban National Ballet (BNC) recalled that Plisetskaya's brother, Azari Plisetski, was for years a member of that company and her partner several times.

Alonso also recalled the performances by the Russian prima ballerina on this island in 1965 and 1968.

The artist performed in this capital the pas de deux of "Sleeping Beauty of the Forest" and the choreographic miniature "The Dying Swan," in a concert program in which Alonso danced a fragment of "Coppelia" and "La fille mal gardee" (The Wayward Daughter).

Some few days later, the Russian dancer danced along with the BNC "Swan Lake," a piece that captivated figures from many countries, such as the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, during one of his visits to the ancient Soviet Union.

During her second visit to Cuba, Plisetskaya played her favorite role, Carmen, a piece that Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso directed at her request and is still a jewel in the active repertoire of Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the BNC.

The prodigious artist passed away on May 2 in the German city of Munich at the age of 89, as a consequence of a heart attack.

Alonso did not hesitate in describing her as a great loss, and after praising her as a woman and professional, she said: rest in peace.