VALID PRODUCTIONS LIMITED - Key Persons

Born in Havana, Silva started his training at the School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier and then, in 2004 at the National School of Ballet. He graduated as ballet dancer and teacher and began to work at the National Ballet of Cuba directed by Alicia Alonso. With this company he travelled to America, Europe and Asia. In 2015 he became Principal Dancer. As a soloist he has performed in Giselle, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La fille mal gardée, Don Quixote and ballets by Cuban choreographers including Electra Garrigó (by Gustavo Herrera), Preciosa y el aire (Precious and the air) by Alicia Alonso; Cinderella by Pedro Consuegra, Un concierto en blanco y negro (Concert in black and White) by José Parés and Después del diluvio (After the rain) by Alberto Méndez. Silva danced the principal role in La siesta de un fauno (Afternoon of a faun), by Vaslav Nijinsky and was one of the soloist in the ballet Percusión para seis hombres (Percussion for six men) by Vicente Nebrada, and in the duet NousSommes, by Jimmy Gamonet. He has worked with other talented choreographers like Peter Quanz (Luminous), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (Celeste) and Víctor Ullate (Samsara). Along with his dancing career, Silva has also participated in many audio-visual projects.

Job Titles:

• Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet

Born in Havana in 1973, Carlos trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba with many of its most influential teachers, including Ramona de Sáa. From 1989 to 1991 Carlos performed throughout the world, guesting with several companies including the Compagnia Teatro Nuovo di Torino in Italy, where he danced alongside Luciana Savignano. Carlos joined The Royal Ballet under the direction of Anthony Dowell in 1998 before changing his title to Principal Guest Artist in 2003. He remains in the company today.

Born in Santiago de Cuba. Chay began his dance studies at the José María Heredia Vocational School of Art in 2011. He was an outstanding student and was selected as the most versatile student on the scene in 2015, for his ease in assuming different dance styles. In 2017, he began studying at the Acosta Danza Academy, under the direction of Carlos Acosta. As a student he has participated in many performances for both the academy and the Acosta Danza. His performances have included; Justin Peck's Belles-Lettres; Around there is nothing, by Goyo Montero; Majísimo, by Jorge García; Tocororo Suite, Don Quixote Suite and Carmen, by Carlos Acosta; Bridges, by Pedro Despaigne and Yo, tú, él, ella, by Ely Regina. In January 2020, Chay was selected to participate in the awards gala of the 48th edition of the Grand Prix de Lausanne. as part of the Choreographic Project directed by the artist Mauro Bigonzetti. In 2021, he performed the solo Guernica, a choreography that won first place and an award for the interpretation of the First Choreographic Contest organized by the Academy in 2021. With this same piece he also won the second prize in the International Choreography Contest of the Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba company in 2021. Chay is a graduate from the first intake of dancers in the Acosta Danza Academy and joined Acosta Danza in 2021.

Born in Havana, Sánchez began her ballet training in 2003 at the School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier. In 2009 she won the Adagio Award for her artistic mastery and began her studies at the National School of Ballet. She participated in international ballet competitions for ballet students and won several awards: first place in variations (2010), second category (2010) and third female place in pas de deux (2011). In that year, her choreography D'dos obtained a mention in a choreographic studio for ballet students. In 2012 Sánchez graduated as a ballerina and ballet teacher summa cum laude and began to work with the National Ballet of Cuba. She has danced in many classic ballets including Giselle, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Coppélia, Nutckacker, Sleeping Beauty, Sylphides, Prologue for a tragedy and Shakespeare y sus máscaras, Dido abandonada and Tula and Diálogo a cuatro, (by Alicia Alonso). She has worked with several young Cuban choreographers like Maysabel Pintado (Me asfixia and Desencuentro); Juan Carlos Hernández (3D), and Luis Serrano (Sinergia).

Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, Corrales started training in 2003 at Pedro Raúl Sánchez Vocational Arts School. In 2005 he continued his studies at the Academy for the Arts Vicentina de La Torre, Camagüey. After graduating as a dancer and ballet professor, he began working with the Ballet of Camagüey, achieving the place of coryphée. He has danced traditional ballets including Swan Lake, the pas de trois of the Fairy Dolls in Don Quixote and Flames of Paris. His repertoire also includes the principal roles in ballets by Cuban choreographers such as Muñecos (Toys) by Alberto Méndez, Majísimo by Jorge García, Nisi Dominus by Jorge Lefebre, El beso de la muerte (The kiss of the death) by José Antonio Chávez, and the contemporary ballets Peregrinos, Cantuus Perpetuus and Bolero and Benedictus by Gonzalo Galguera.

Born in Ciego de Avila, Rodríguez began her dance studies in the School of Arts Vocational Luis Casas Romero in Camagüey in 2002. She continued her studies at the Academy of Arts Vicentina de la Torre. During her student years she appeared in two editions of the International Ballet Competition for Students held in Havana, and won gold medals. Upon graduation she joined the Ballet of Camagüey. In this company she achieved the rank of Principal Dancer. Her repertoire consists of the main characters of historical ballets as grand pas de quatre, Swan Lake, La fille mal gardée, Paquita, the pas de trois of The Fairy Dolls, Don Quixote, the second act of the ballet Giselle and The Dying Swan by Michel Fokine. She has danced ballets by Cuban choreographers like Vivaldi by Jose Antonio Chavez, Majísimo by Georges Garcia, Avalanche by Osvaldo Beiro, Forms for concern by Menia Martinez and Nisi Dominus by Jorge Lefebre, as well as more contemporary works such as the Pilgrims duet by Gonzalo Galguera.

Born in Granma, Cuba. Marco began his studies at the National School of Art (ENA), in Havana in 2007. His early creations included: En la rueda and Doctor Cirrosis, presented at the International Dance Festival in Urban Landscapes and other competitions.He joined the Rosario Cárdenas company in 2013. There he performed choreographies such as Tributo al Monte, Prado 111, María Viván, Concierto en Nueve and Dador. As part of this cast, he created the choreographies Versus and La soga.