Mirta Plá

Mirta Esteny Plá Cabal (1940 – September 23, 2003) was a Cuban dancer, teacher of ballet, and ballet master. Along with Loipa Araújo, Aurora Bosch, and Josefina Méndez, she is regarded as one of the "four jewels of Cuban ballet". She was a principal artist with the Cuban National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de Cuba; BNC).

Early years Born in Havana, Plá began her studies at the Conservatorio Municipal de la Habana. She continued her training under Fernando Alonso, Leon Fokine, Alexandra Fedorova, José Parés and Mary Skeaping.

Career

She debuted professionally in 1953, at the age of 13. The same year, Plá was promoted to soloist, acquiring the status of principal dancer in 1962. Giselle Deyá's biography, Mirta Plá: una joya de la cultura cubana, on the prima ballerina was published in 2011.