Life has been very difficult these last few days. We just had our sixth total blackout this year, and the storms made it so much harder to get the lights back on. It is exhausting to cook and wash in the dark, wondering when the power will cut again. My garden is the only place I find peace right now.

But I just read some wonderful news that made me smile. Two students from the Escuela Nacional de Ballet Fernando Alonso, Greisell Lastre and Joan Manuel Riera, won five gold medals and a silver at the International Ballet Competition in South Africa! They performed 'Diana and Acteon' and 'The Flames of Paris' so beautifully.

As a teacher, seeing our youth succeed like this on the world stage gives me so much pride. Even with all the shortages and the lack of electricity for our rehearsals, the Cuban spirit for dance never stops shining. These children are the true gold of our country. It reminds me why I dedicated my life to this art. Bravisimo to them!