The Royal Ballet of London said it will perform in Havana on Tuesday for the first time in its 78-year-old history, featuring an appearance of its star Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta.

The storied classical ballet company and its 96 dancers arrived late Friday in Cuba accompanied by 50 technicians for five performances, including a tribute to Cuban ballet legend Alicia Alonso, said Royal Ballet artistic director Dame Monica Mason.

Despite suffering from partial blindness, Alonso, 88, continues to head the National Ballet of Cuba, which she helped found 60 years ago.

Mason told reporters she was honored to be in Cuba, where, she said, dance is at the heart of the people and the culture.

In a quid pro quo, Cuba's National Ballet is scheduled to perform in the United Kingdom next year, accompanied by Acosta, the Royal Ballet's principal guest dancer.