The Havana Times and Café Fuerte are reporting that seven artists from the National Ballet of Cuba left the company while on tour in Mexico in mid-March. Six of the seven reportedly have already crossed the U.S. border in Texas and have requested asylum in Miami, Florida. The dancers are identified as Ariadnni Martín, Randy Crespo, Edward González, José Justiz, Annie Ruiz Díaz and Luis Víctor Santana. The seventh dancer, Alejandro Méndez, reportedly is still in Mexico. Annie Ruiz Diaz confirmed that the group planned the escape to the U.S. while in Cuba.
Our arms are always opened for these wonderful artists, but it is such a shame that their circumstances drive them from their homeland.