Britain's Royal Ballet set for rare Cuban shows

Nearly 100 dancers from Britain'sRoyal Ballet have arrived in Havana for a series of sold-out shows beginning this week.

Company administrators told reportersSaturday that 150 people, including 96 dancers, made the trip from London for the rareengagement. It is the Royal Ballet's firstvisit to Cuba in the troupe'snearly 80-year history.

The Communist country hasnot hosted a foreign balletin aboutthree decades.

With the first show to be staged Tuesday, the performances will include the company offering an homage to iconic Cuban ballet star Alicia Alonso, withCuban dancer Carlos Acostataking the stage.

The 88-year-old Alonso has led the Cuban national ballet since the 1960s. Acosta,principal guest dancer with the Royal Ballet, was her former student.

Three performances will take place at the Gran Teatro in Central Havana before moving to the Karl Marx Teatro for the final two. Video screens outside the Gran Teatro willshowfour of the performances.

According to Cuban officials, tickets sold out "in a matter of hours" quickly snatched up by dance-loving Cubans eager to see theinternational troupe and witness the return of Acosta.