January 18th, 2023
Llonnis del Toro Cintra was born in 1999 in Havana, Cuba, and began his ballet career at the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School under the direction of Ramona De SaaBello. He has participated in several national and international ballet competitions, winning two silver medals and a special mention. He and was part of the National Ballet of Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso. Del Toro’s repertoire includes La Bayadere, Flames of Paris, Carnival of Venice, Giselle, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Napoli, The Talisman, Coppelia, La Fille mal Gardée, Theme and variations, Carmen, In the Shadows of a waltz, Cinderella, the Magic Flute, Earth and Moon, Sleeping Beauty,among others. He has participated in festivals in Peru, Mexico, and China and is very excited to join the company of Cincinnati Ballet.
Hey Llonnis, how are you doing?
Very good, just getting out of rehearsals for Alice (in wonderland).
Awesome! Are you excited for Alice?
I’m super excited and can’t wait to perform again on stage. I’ve been learning a lot of new things! So, a lot of rehearsals, because I’m playing multiple roles for this show, but it’s all fun!
It sounds fun! What roles are you doing? Or better yet, how many are you doing?
Haha, I honestly don’t even know because there’s a lot. Let’s see…I know I’m doing the White Rabbit, I’m doing the Frog, I’m doing Tweedledee with Daniel (Baldwin), I’m one of the Mens on White, and I am also the wing of a Butterfly. The WING! How cool is that? I mean, there’s a lot to learn, I’m definitely playing more roles than The Nutcracker, but like I said – it’s all fun!
Wow! That’s amazing! And, by the way, congratulations on the new promotion, Llonnis! New dancer!
Haha! Thank you so much! Thank you. I’m grateful, very grateful, because from what I know they usually promote people at the end of season, but I think I got promoted earlier than the usual. So, it’s really such a great feeling!
Totally! And how long have you been with the Cincinnati Ballet?
I’ve been here, I think, 5 to 6 months. Yeah, around that time, definitely not even a year. I was in Kentucky Ballet Theater before, but being here for 5 months, I feel like I’ve already learned a lot. Met a lot of cool people too.
And what has your experience been like since joining the company?
Amazing! I really like it here so much. I mean, great company, great people to work with – I also really like the stuff that we’re doing; all the reps and performances that we have planned this year. I’ve been dancing professionally for 5 years now, but being here has been really redeeming for me.
5 years? You’ve been on a journey, Llonnis!
Yeah! I feel old. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this professionally since I was 18.
And I’m sure it’s been thrilling to be promoted as New Dancer. How are you feeling?
I’m feeling good, you know, I feel hungry. Not literally, haha. But I feel ambitious, you know. I’m hungry for more experience and I just want to do more.
Last year, you were promoted as an Apprentice and now as a New Dancer. Are there any advice you’d like to share to the next generation of ballet dancers?
I’ll say discipline is important. Hard work too. But for me, the most important thing, is to just do it for yourself. Dance for yourself. Feel it! Enjoy it! Like, if this is what you’re gonna be doing for a long time, and if this is what you really love – then you should enjoy it! Enjoy it 100% percent!
I agree. Thank you for sharing that!
Yeah, totally. You always have to do it for yourself.
So, now that the new season is coming and there’s a lot of exciting things happening this year; what is it that you’re looking forward to the most?
This year…I don’t even know. I’m looking forward to a lot of things, but mainly, I think, to just keep growing as a dancer. Keep growing. Keep pushing. And just keep striving for more.
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Follow Llonnis on Instagram:
@llon_deltoro
