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Ballet West is going to Cuba.

The Salt Lake City-based dance company has been invited to the International Ballet Festival of Havana, one of the dance world's oldest and most prestigious events, Ballet West announced Thursday.

Ballet West will be one of the first U.S. ballet companies to take part in the festival since relations between the United States and Cuba were restored earlier this year.

Adam Sklute, the troupe's CEO and artistic director, said the invitation to perform at the festival's gala, on Sunday, Nov. 6, was "a truly wonderful and exciting honor."

"In spite of the commercial and economic embargo by the United States, the arts, and in particular, ballet continued to thrive in Cuba," Sklute said in a statement. "In this vibrant country, ballet training and dancers are legendary in the world of dance. Politicians speak of increased trading of commodities between our countries. It is my opinion that the sharing of our art forms will lead to a better understanding of each other's culture and people, and to a healthier long-term relationship."

Ballet West will perform resident choreographer Nicolo Fonte's "Presto." The work, an edgy and passionate quartet first performed in 2012, will feature principal dancer Katherine Lawrence, first soloists Jacqueline Straughan and Adrian Fry, and soloist Alexander MacFarlan.

Principal dancers Beckanne Sisk and Christopher Ruud will also perform George Balanchine's "Rubies," part of the three-act program "Jewels," created in 1967. It will be the first time "Rubies" has been performed in Cuba, according to Ballet West.

As part of the cultural exchange, each female Ballet West dancer will donate several pairs of pointe shoes to the National Ballet of Cuba. The shoes will be presented to the Cuban group on the night of the gala performance.

"Pointe shoes are incredibly difficult to obtain in Cuba," Sklute said. "We hope this gift can be useful to their amazing dancers."

The cost of the trip is being underwritten by the Quinney and Lawson families, longtime Ballet West supporters.