During a visit to Havana, I encountered a story that blended the brilliance of art with the precision of science, embodied in the life of one remarkable woman - Alicia Alonso.
Known as the prima ballerina assoluta of the Cuban National Ballet, Alonso’s legacy extends far beyond the stage. She symbolizes the rich intersection of artistic expression and scientific curiosity, a lesson I had the privilege to absorb during my time on the island.
The Invitation to Cuba
In April 2011, I was invited to Havana as a guest speaker at the 7th International Congress on Veterinary Sciences, sponsored by the NAVC International Outreach initiative. The event welcomed over 300 delegates from Cuba and 30 other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Angola. It was a celebration of shared knowledge, with a particular focus on animal health, veterinary public health, and poverty reduction - areas in which Cuban veterinarians were global leaders.
What struck me most was how veterinarians in Cuba have embraced the philosophy of One World, One Health. They are pioneers in policies that address animal welfare, food security, and public health, often achieving remarkable results with limited resources.
At the congress, Dr. Leopoldo Escobar, a representative of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), praised Cuba’s efforts in training veterinarians from across the globe. He described Cuban-trained professionals as ambassadors of high veterinary standards, contributing significantly to disease prevention and control worldwide.
An Educator Becomes a Student
My role at the congress was to lecture on clinical neurology of small animals alongside Dr. Jorge Guerrero, who presented on parasitology. The lecture halls were filled, and discussions spilled well beyond the allotted time. An attendee from Angola captured the essence of the event when she said:
“NAVC has shown us the future by sharing what is possible.
If you don’t know where you are going, how will you plan the journey?”
It was a humbling reminder of the global impact of shared knowledge and the resilience of those striving to advance veterinary science in resource-limited settings.
Discovering Alicia Alonso
While in Havana, I had the extraordinary opportunity to attend a performance by the Cuban National Ballet, honoring the 91st birthday of Alicia Alonso. A living legend in the world of ballet, Alonso’s life was a testament to the fusion of art and science. Beyond her celebrated career as a dancer and choreographer, Alonso was an explorer of Cuban caves, a discoverer of rare mushrooms, and an astronomy enthusiast.
Alonso’s love for science was deeply rooted, inspired by her father, Dr. Don Antonio Martínez Arredondo - a pioneer in Cuban veterinary medicine and a graduate of veterinary studies in the United States.
In 2010, the Cuban veterinary community celebrated the 125th anniversary of Dr. Arredondo’s birth by honoring Alonso with a certificate recognizing her father’s contributions to the profession. This unique connection between veterinary science and one of Cuba’s greatest artistic icons exemplified the profound links between seemingly disparate disciplines.
Science and Art: Alonso’s Perspective
Alicia Alonso famously said:
“Science and art are among the highest expressions of human activity.
In some way, they are linked, and that’s why I see, between the audacity of
scientific research and the unstoppable adventure of artistic creation,
mysterious communicating ties.”
Her belief in this connection inspired her to create ballets such as Verbum (Genom in Musica (The Word: Genome in Music), based on the evolution of the human genome. She viewed science as a source of endless wonder, fueling her creativity and shaping her artistic journey.
Lessons Learned in Cuba
My time in Havana taught me far more than I expected. As an educator, I arrived intending to share my knowledge, but I left as a student, deeply humbled by the ingenuity and resilience of Cuban professionals and the profound wisdom of a ballerina who saw no boundaries between art and science.
Alicia Alonso’s life served as a reminder that both science and art are about exploration - pushing boundaries to understand the world and our place within it. Whether in the lecture hall or on the ballet stage, these pursuits enrich humanity, offering inspiration and progress in equal measure. My journey to Cuba reinforced the beauty of this connection and the joy of discovering kindred spirits along the way.
As the Latin phrase docendo discimus suggests, “We learn by teaching.” But in Havana, I learned by listening - and I carry those lessons with me to this day.
Addendum
“If a person keeps thinking, ‘How old am I going to be?’ and thinking about the age,
that’s the worst thing you can do. You don’t have to think about how old you are.
You must think about how many things you want to do,
and how to do it, and keep on doing it.”
Remembering Alicia Alonso, Cuba's Prima Ballerina Assoluta.
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