LABIRINTI E CASEMATTE

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), on occasion of her informal lecture at 深圳书城 (Shēnzhèn Book City) in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China on Sunday, December 23, 2018, advised her younger audience to give always priority to scholastic studies rather than to chess, bringing her own experience as a lucky example. She encountered her first “conflict” at eighteen years, particularly when most chess officials besieged her to make her recede from her intention to enter the Peking University, which could have eclipsed her professional career as a player. “I have always had a clear idea in my heart. That is, no matter how far I go in chess, I don’t want my future life to be only chess. That’s an indispensable part of my life, but nevertheless, I still hope that my studies will offer me new experiences and perspectives in other fields as well, so as to make my life more colourful”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. Photo: szlg.com.

Alicia Alonso reaparece en el escenario de su propio teatro | Alicia Alonso reappears on the stage of her own theatre, Prensa Latina, January 2, 2019

Havana, January 1 (Prensa Latina) — Alicia Alonso’s appearance in public unleashed an apotheosis today at the Gran Teatro de La Habana named after the legendary ballet étoile.
Health problems have kept Cuba’s prima ballerina assoluta out of the public scene for months.
Admirers from all countries regretted that, for the first time in history, the artist could not parade ahead of her own company, the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, at the 26th International Ballet Festival of Havana, which took place from October 28 to November 6, nor participate directly in any of the sideline events.
Alicia was not in her theatre, where ritually hundreds of admirers applaud and praise her even in the corridors, and where a bronze statue of herself, young and gleaming in the role of Giselle, has impressed visitors since its installation a year ago.
Although she appeared seated in a chair on the stage of the García Lorca Auditorium, for greater ecstasy of her admirers Alonso performed a port de bras, a movement of arms which she executed in different positions, and inevitably the audience erupted in applause and cheers.
Not in vain, sometimes many have the impression that she still dances. [Read more].

Alicia Alonso back to the Gran Teatro de La Habana on January 1, 2019, on the 60th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution. Photo: Prensa Latina.