HAVANA (AP) -- Dancers spun and leaped with striking energy and elasticity, keeping time with avant-garde lighting in a stirring tribute Wednesday night by Britain's Royal Ballet for Cuba's 88-year-old grande dame of dance, Alicia Alonso. Making its first visit to the island, the 96-member troupe began with daring dances from "Chroma" then was joined on stage by performers from the company Alonso founded, the Cuban National Ballet. Alonso, who attended the performance, was a prima ballerina with some of the United States' most important companies in the 1940s and '50s and she has become the face of a state-sponsored arts program that the government of Fidel Castro touts worldwide as a jewel of 50 years of communist rule. (17 images)
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A dancer performs during a rehearsal of the Royal Ballet of London at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Cubans observe screens outside of Garcia Lorca Theater during a special presentation with members of the UK's Royal Ballet and the Cuban National Ballet companies on July 15, in Havana. AFP / Getty Images
Cuban dancer from the UK's Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, performs at Garcia Lorca theater in Havana on July 15, during a special presentation with members of the Cuban National Ballet. AFP / Getty Images
On screens outside Garcia Lorca Theater, Cubans observe Royal Ballet dancer Edward Watson, right, during a special presentation with members of the UK's Royal Ballet and the Cuban National Ballet companies on July 15, in Havana. AFP /Getty Images
Dancer from the UK's Royal Ballet perform on July 15, at Garcia Lorca theater in Havana, during a special presentation. At the left are dancers Tamara Rojo of Spain and Carlos Acosta of Cuba. At the center are dancers Thiago Soares of Brazil and Viengsay Valdez of Cuban. At the right are dancers Tamara Rojo of Spain, and Cuban Joel Carreno. AFP / Getty Images
Dancers of the Royal Ballet and Cuban National Ballet are applauded in front of a screen where many Cubans watched a special presentation, on July 15, in Havana. AFP / Getty Images
Dancers of the Royal Ballet of London perform "Chroma" at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
A dancer of the Royal Ballet of London performs "Chroma" at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Dancers perform during a rehearsal of the Royal Ballet of London at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Dancers perform during a rehearsal of the Royal Ballet of London at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Dancers perform during a rehearsal of the Royal Ballet of London at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Spain's dancer Tamara Rojo, of the Royal Ballet of London, performs "Don Quijote" at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Wednesday, July 15. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
UK's Royal Ballet dancers Brazilian Roberta Marquez, right, and British Edward Watson perform during the Royal Ballet rehearsal on July 14, in Garcia Lorca theatre in Havana. AFP / Getty Images
UK's Royal Ballet dancers Sara Lamb, left, and Italian Federico Bonelli perform during the Royal Ballet rehearsal on July 14, in Garcia Lorca theatre in Havana. AFP / Getty Images
A musician performs an instrument during a rehearsal of the Royal Ballet of London at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Cuban ballet students wait to attend a rehearsal of the Royal Ballet of London at the Gran Teatro in Havana, Tuesday, July 14. The Royal Ballet of London is making its first ever appearance in Cuba for a tribute to Cuba's National Ballet and its founder, renowned ballerina Alicia Alonso. AP / Javier Galeano
Cuban National Ballet Director Alicia Alonso, second from right, receives a homage from members of the UK's Royal Ballet on July 15, at Garcia Lorca Theater in Havana. At right is Cuban dancer and member of the Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta. Cuban Joel Carreno, left, and Spanish member of the Royal Ballet, Tamara Rojo, second left. AFP /Getty Images
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