Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015, Meridian International Center launched the first phase of its US-Cuba Cultural Diplomacy program with a private performance by Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba and reception sponsored by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. The event brought Ambassador of Cuba Dr. José Ramón Cabañas Rodriguez together with high-level U.S. government officials, including Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN06), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA13), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Deputy Assistant Secretary and Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda. Also in attendance were senior representatives of the U.S. Department of State, several members of the diplomatic corps, senior policy makers, and cultural enthusiasts.

Meridian’s President and CEO, Ambassador Stuart Holliday, welcomed guests and introduced the evening’s distinguished speakers, Ambassador of Cuba Dr. José Ramón Cabañas Rodriguez and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Anya Landau French, Senior Policy Advisor at Akin Gump, further highlighted the significance of US-Cuban relations in regard to the upcoming one-year anniversary of restored diplomatic ties on December 17.

Following the opening remarks, the audience was transported to Havana as performers broke into song and dance. Lizt Alfonso, Cuba’s premier dance company, specializes in a blend of classical ballet with Cuban and Spanish influences. The group presented an abbreviated version of their current ‘Cuba Vibra’ set, which they have performed throughout the United States, including in Boston, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC. During their current tour, Lizt Alfonso became the first Cuban dance group to appear on the Latin Grammys, which took place in Las Vegas on November 19.