| 14/01/2021 – 11:10 am (GMT-4)
The Cuban dancer, choreographer and teacher, Gladys González Camejo, died of a heart attack this Wednesday in Mexico at the age of 83, According to his son, also a dancer, actor and singer, July Camejo.
Main figure of the Ballet of the Cuban Television, during decades Gladys González formed next to her husband Antonio Sanchez –died in 2014– one of the best known dance couples on the island. At the time of her death, she was a Dance Consultant specializing in ballroom dancing at the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores in Monterrey, Mexico, where she lived for several years.
“Gladys and Antonio”, As the couple was popularly known among Cubans, was noted for his contribution to the television program “Per Ballar”. Later they created the space “Learning to Dance”, where they gave classes of popular and traditional dances of Cuba and other countries.
In a video posted via Facebook, Julio Camejo evoked his mother’s last moments. “I’m not going to tell you how she died, I’ll tell you how this great woman lived”Camejo began his emotional message, in which he reported that yesterday his mother had a class on line to his students.
Camejo emphasized that in addition to being a great dancer and a great choreographer, Gladys González was a “piece of mother and piece of woman.” He added that although he feels a great void for the game, he prefers not to close his eyes and suffer, but to open them and “Remember her for how great she was for her teaching.”
“He always encouraged me to give my best, to be a good father, but above all things it was the woman who said to me, ‘before you think of your personal good, think of the good of the people,’ and I go with this, with his joy, with that smile so definitive that it defined her“, Added.
“If they want to remember her, my people, remember her with a sip of rum, remember her dancing salsa or a danzón, remember her with a smile, because that’s how she wanted them to remember her, always smiling,” he concluded.
“The last of the rumberas, Gladys González, ‘Antonio’s wife’ is dancing next to my dad once again today. I am left with all the great that they left me. And gratitude because thanks to you I am the man, the father, the artist and the person I am, ”Camejo wrote in another post on his social media.
“We deeply regret the death of our professor of the Department of Art and Culture, Gladys González Camejo and we join the grief that besets her family and friends. Rest in peace,” published for its part the Tecnológico de Monterrey on their social networks.
The news was also shared on the website of the Cuban Radio and Television Institute (ICRT).
“Today Gladys González, First Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer of the Cuban Television Ballet, stopped being physically among us. One of the most important figures in the Show and in our Cuban Culture. We are very sad with her An unexpected game for everyone! Cuban Dance is in mourning! A tireless worker who was giving her best teaching until her death. This way we will remember you dancing and laughing as you liked, “she wrote on Facebook. Cuban dancer Carmeta Castiñeiras.
“Fly high dear Teacher and Friend! We will never forget you will always live in each of us! Because Dance was your Life! My deepest condolences to Julio, Mariela to her relatives and students of the Technological University of Monterrey”, he concluded.
Gladys González was also remembered by Cuban journalist Abel Alvarez, who cataloged her death as a native of Cuba “Another bad news for Cuban culture”, And defined it as one “One of the most charismatic dancers Cuban television has ever had.”
In addition to her outstanding career on Cuban television, Gladys González also created works for the National Ballet of Cuba, including Les Pericas, inspired by a play by playwright Nicolau Dorr.