Cuban national ballet dancers defect to Miami
- 11 years ago
A lot is at stake here for six Cuban dancers, auditioning for The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami.
They defected last month from the National Ballet of Cuba - one of the island country's proudest and most prestigious institutions.
Abandoning their group while touring Mexico, the dancers made their way to the U.S. border.
Cuban exiles are afforded special immigration privileges in the U.S. as well as financial benefits to help them get on their feet.
The Miami company will act as a support base, a platform to get the dancers started - if they make the cut.
Talking after an intense two-hour workout, the dancers said they left Cuba in search of better opportunities.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARIANNI MARTIN CABRALES, CUBAN BALLET DANCER WHO DEFECTED, SAYING:
"We are in the prime of our youth and we can do anything. This is a country where we can have opportunities and we are going to take them, so we can prosper and become what I want to become."
They defected last month from the National Ballet of Cuba - one of the island country's proudest and most prestigious institutions.
Abandoning their group while touring Mexico, the dancers made their way to the U.S. border.
Cuban exiles are afforded special immigration privileges in the U.S. as well as financial benefits to help them get on their feet.
The Miami company will act as a support base, a platform to get the dancers started - if they make the cut.
Talking after an intense two-hour workout, the dancers said they left Cuba in search of better opportunities.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARIANNI MARTIN CABRALES, CUBAN BALLET DANCER WHO DEFECTED, SAYING:
"We are in the prime of our youth and we can do anything. This is a country where we can have opportunities and we are going to take them, so we can prosper and become what I want to become."