Cuban National Ballet dancers defect to Miami

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Six unnamed dancers with the Cuban National Ballet have arrived in the US city of Miami, after they defected from their troupe while on tour.

Despite the prestige of the Cuban National Ballet, where celebrated dancers including Carlos Acosta CBE trained, its performers often flee during international tours.

Pedro Pablo Pena, director of the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, confirmed the dancers had arrived from the US territory of Puerto Rico over the weekend.

Pena is himself an exiled Cuban dancer and has taken in numerous ballerinas throughout the years.

He added that he spoke with four of dancers on Sunday, and promised to support them and give them an artistic space while they consider their next move.

Dancers from the company first left during a Parisian tour in 1966, citing political reasons.

More recently dancers have left also for both economic and artistic motives, as Cuban ballet dancers earn on average no more than $30 (£18) a month.

Additional reporting by AP