Cuban Dancer

Alexis is a 15 year old talented and proud student of the National Ballet School of Cuba. He spends his life practicing chassé and entrechats with his girlfriend and dance partner Yelenia. However, when his parents move to Florida to be reunited with his sister, his happy teenage world is turned upside down. He’s forced to leave behind Cuba, his colleagues at school, his relatives and his beloved girlfriend.

Facing rejection and homesick for his native Cuba, Alexis feels lost and alone. When he gets accepted in the prestigious Harid Ballet school he has to start all over. He doesn’t speak the language, has no friends and his Cuban style of ballet does not match the American school method. Meanwhile his parents are making sacrifices for his career working extra hours at their humble jobs. Alexis knows that he has to find his way quickly in the bourgeois and elitist world of American ballet while trying to remain faithful to his roots.

Trailer

Details

Country of Production
Italy, Canada, Chile

Year of Production
2020

Length
53 / 98 min

Director
Roberto Salinas

Production
Indyca in co-production with Valdivia Film, Film Option International in collaboration with Microdocumentaries, Rai Cinema

Original Language
Spanish, English

Subtitles
English

Festivals / Awards

Alice nella città (within Rome IFF) 2020
Havana IFF 2020
Miami IFF 2021 (Knight Made in MIA Feature Film Award)
Glocal Film Festival 2021 (Best Documentary)
San Francisco IFF 2021 (Audience Award)
Visions du Réel 2021
DOK.fest Munich 2021
One World Prague 2021
DocsBarcelona 2021
Encounters South African IFF 2021
The Americas FF New York 2021
DocAviv 2021
EIDF 2021
Nevada City FF 2021 (Best Musical Score)
Flahertiana IDF 2021 (Special Jury Mention)
Austin Film Society Doc Days 2021
São Paulo IFF 2021
Havana Film Festival NY 2021 (Best Documentary)
Free Zone Belgrade HRFF 2021
NRFF Guadeloupe 2022
Millenium FF Brussels 2022