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Catherine Conley (C), the first American to study at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School (ENB) takes part in a practice in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. Catherine Conley, the first American full-time student at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School, hopes to gain an edge back home by learning the powerful Cuban style with its dazzling turns and jumps. Communist-led Cuba is renowned for its rigorous, state-subsidised ballet education and has produced an outsized share of dance stars, such as Carlos Acosta and Jose Manuel Carreno, for a small island of 11 million inhabitants. Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB), which claims to be the world's largest with 3,000 students, has long trained many foreign dancers. But no American had joined its full-time program during the half-century long conflict between Cuba and United States. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Catherine Conley (C), the first American to study at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School (ENB) takes part in a practice in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. Catherine Conley, the first American full-time student at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School, hopes to gain an edge back home by learning the powerful Cuban style with its dazzling turns and jumps. Communist-led Cuba is renowned for its rigorous, state-subsidised ballet education and has produced an outsized share of dance stars, such as Carlos Acosta and Jose Manuel Carreno, for a small island of 11 million inhabitants. Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB), which claims to be the world's largest with 3,000 students, has long trained many foreign dancers. But no American had joined its full-time program during the half-century long conflict between Cuba and United States. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Relatives of students wait for the end of the lessons outside the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Relatives of students wait for the end of the lessons outside the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



A child reacts to the camera at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

A child reacts to the camera at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) relax during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) relax during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) play with a cell phone during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) play with a cell phone during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) arrive for a class in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) arrive for a class in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students Marlon Fromeda (R), 17, and Gretel Lastre (C), 17, chat during a break at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students Marlon Fromeda (R), 17, and Gretel Lastre (C), 17, chat during a break at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) chat during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) chat during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



A student at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) runs to a classroom in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

A student at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) runs to a classroom in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) watch a class from outside the classroom in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) watch a class from outside the classroom in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) chat during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) chat during a break in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Catherine Conley, the first American to study at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School (ENB) practices during a lesson in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Catherine Conley, the first American to study at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School (ENB) practices during a lesson in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)



Catherine Conley (C), the first American to study at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School (ENB) is assisted by a teacher during a lesson in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Catherine Conley (C), the first American to study at Cuba's prestigious National Ballet School (ENB) is assisted by a teacher during a lesson in Havana, Cuba, October 12, 2016. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)
19 Oct 2016 11:46:00