tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44435984313278561272023-11-16T14:15:49.253+01:00Interpreting en PointeBecause you can interpret with your ballet shoes on!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16897709401246223362noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-13561604204409935912015-05-10T21:58:00.000+02:002015-05-10T21:59:13.644+02:00Progress<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The other day I was having a look at older
posts in this blog and it is really amazing to see that some things that seemed
impossible some years ago, now are not only really simple, but also <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost do them unconsciously, like a totally
normal thing.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL85LCcYDR0hN5biBkYl-_E3o3ovaMS9cu5NP1Ej8v3agUGfZsetjcUYTMRUi_uCWrV_AJcQ7ltpHpXe6acy5Fykjmc8S55jodY1HrjOB-JoTWue9jbLmTZIz5FOBxN8ly-Cz4vufLcLM/s1600/Ballet+R%C3%ADo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL85LCcYDR0hN5biBkYl-_E3o3ovaMS9cu5NP1Ej8v3agUGfZsetjcUYTMRUi_uCWrV_AJcQ7ltpHpXe6acy5Fykjmc8S55jodY1HrjOB-JoTWue9jbLmTZIz5FOBxN8ly-Cz4vufLcLM/s200/Ballet+R%C3%ADo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you can find swans in the river ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I still remember the first time my ballet
teacher asked me to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tombé, pas de bourrée</i>
across the floor around four years ago. It might sound simple to any dancer,
but it is not easy at all for someone who just (re)started dancing, for real. And
then I bumped into <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://interpretingenpointe.blogspot.com.es/2011/10/i-can-do-it-guys.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">this</span></a></span>
post in which I was super happy because I had my front splits, which I now do
on a daily basis, kind of overstretched. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then my Timehop App reminded me that other
time when I congratulated myself for being able to hold my balance in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">passé</i> for a couple of seconds. Now I can
hold it for as long as I want (or as long as my calves want, depending on the
day), as well as balances in attitude derrière or in arabesque (well, this one
is a little trickier, I must admit!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What I mean with all this is that no matter how
hard anything you try to do is, if you persevere and work hard, you will get to
a point when you master it, even if you need years of practice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So work hard and keep dancing! Never stop
dancing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nerea.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16897709401246223362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-27358787311587380062014-11-23T20:27:00.002+01:002015-05-06T00:24:32.746+02:00Guess who's back!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello nice reader!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm back! Wow, it's been a while since the last time I posted here! Almost two years and my life has changed a whole lot. I'll try not to give too many details, because these two years have definitely been crazy and I don't want to get you (too) bored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's see where we were! During that previous post I was living and working as a Spanish teaching assistant in Paris. Well, even though I was offered the possibility to keep working at those high schools, I decided that it wasn't what I really wanted to do, so a month later I came back to my village in Spain and started my own translation business. Just four or five months later I was already working (and enjoying) full time, so I can't say things aren't going well!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Regarding my ballet training, I obviously left my ballet academy in Paris and got enrolled in a great school in León, the closest city to my village in Spain. When I got there, my teacher suggested I should go to the advanced level with the advanced girls and boys (yikes!), so I did. And I have to admit that during the first months I was super lost in class, but after a while I got used to it... and now, starting my second year at an advanced level, I am feeling great and actually dancing awesome stuff. My classmates are a bunch of lovely and talented people and I am learning so much from them. In June we did two performances with actual excerpts from the scene of the shades from La Bayadère (so I actually got to wear a white tutu!) and a contemporary piece set to inspiring music by Ludovico Einaudi.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeoGb8ToNvbfVgrnmCUyZ4-bI4iTiUoHMBLZ89R_9aRMieqyANuc0t3SIkWzXa69cltpJc6nauCOBwk-XxZgCOrEY5Plx-F3gw-WQfbvgqRvqIiopyIqDGIFhQrRlLsQFUBCAIIykZw/s1600/Festival+Coppelia+2014-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeoGb8ToNvbfVgrnmCUyZ4-bI4iTiUoHMBLZ89R_9aRMieqyANuc0t3SIkWzXa69cltpJc6nauCOBwk-XxZgCOrEY5Plx-F3gw-WQfbvgqRvqIiopyIqDGIFhQrRlLsQFUBCAIIykZw/s1600/Festival+Coppelia+2014-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsing La Bayadère - Photo (c) Abocados</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So far this year, in addition to our 5 hours a week we've done an intensive advanced course that consisted in 9 dancing hours over three days with one of the greatest experts in pedagogy of dance in the country. That was exhausting, but so rewarding. My lovely teacher has recently told me that she's really amazed by my progress, so right now I couldn't be happier!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8sJAeyBU2XcH44DZEAjhLy1Pn1jJz7K18XsMN3FS6KPp8DJqOydF4JqEgxPXGsstIpC7NnfSHQGMTlZp0nd8G0X_nhn9gfAER4mJhf1meZzBfxntCFHxq6Dd3YtdHyavSMPpKDu4mA/s1600/Festival+Coppelia+2014-407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8sJAeyBU2XcH44DZEAjhLy1Pn1jJz7K18XsMN3FS6KPp8DJqOydF4JqEgxPXGsstIpC7NnfSHQGMTlZp0nd8G0X_nhn9gfAER4mJhf1meZzBfxntCFHxq6Dd3YtdHyavSMPpKDu4mA/s1600/Festival+Coppelia+2014-407.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contemporary piece - Photo (c) Abocados</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yv77scdTkIcEwW0-yNl50VpzQHl6dpfOVUPtGeGTxCxvrMZbimIUIHefbNwsyvuD3BluyJ_h1Ln3u5sY79bbCwtQeCPAFTpe-g-FV6JLbC1kFSMShjv5onr4n7n0PNYsEy7LM_0Gcw/s1600/IMG_6078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yv77scdTkIcEwW0-yNl50VpzQHl6dpfOVUPtGeGTxCxvrMZbimIUIHefbNwsyvuD3BluyJ_h1Ln3u5sY79bbCwtQeCPAFTpe-g-FV6JLbC1kFSMShjv5onr4n7n0PNYsEy7LM_0Gcw/s1600/IMG_6078.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moi in London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, I have travelled quite a lot since the previous post. In April I went to Madrid to see Le Corsaire by the English National Ballet, with Tamara Rojo as Medora and that was definitely a night to remember. I've also been to London three more times. During the first trip I ended up assisting to the West End Live 2013 by chance, which made me develop a strong love for musical theatre. So since then I've enjoyed many musicals and ballets there. I've seen Phantom of the Opera twice (a total of five times in my lifetime), Wicked three times, Evita, Swan Lake in the Round by ENB and I fulfilled my life dream of watching the full Manon ballet live, performed by the Royal Ballet. My favourite ballet ever with one of my favourite ballerinas ever, Marianela Núñez. My God, that was special.</div>
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So that is pretty much all for now. It's nice to be back.</div>
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I hope to be able to keep writing here now that my timetable is a bit more stable.</div>
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Have fun!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nerea.</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-31234071939978313922013-03-24T13:20:00.001+01:002013-03-24T13:20:51.756+01:00Your cotton is important!<div style="text-align: justify;">
So yesterday I was in pointe class. It was so long and intense.</div>
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We were doing some really difficult combinations, set to the <i>Rose Adagio</i> music, as well as to Aurora's variation music from Act III of <i>Sleeping Beauty</i>.</div>
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Awesome..., but yeah, you can imagine: our feet were hurting a lot and we were so, so tired. That was honestly the first time in my life that I needed a ballet class to finish already (even if I was having LOTS of fun). There must have been a moment of total despair, because the teacher looked at our faces and said:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I know, I know. It is difficult and it hurts. You know what? I have this little student. The other day we were in class and I realized she wasn't going on pointe. She kept dancing on demi-pointe again and again. So I asked her about it <i>(Nerea points out: in a cute voice talking in French)</i>:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK3j78HKd2gfUJYtozQ_xMTrBa0D9dyOIAyJy4aYo_nMYAFVSDU1wmzq9WQEW2KPPOwCquSt7n-fMDn3EqCeWRB6RgCnjSkBui96Fs5dQ3rni3L75VR5n1YLA-nx_oMrDvAuZRLNqUw/s1600/BA_V4AcCAAEfhix.jpg+large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK3j78HKd2gfUJYtozQ_xMTrBa0D9dyOIAyJy4aYo_nMYAFVSDU1wmzq9WQEW2KPPOwCquSt7n-fMDn3EqCeWRB6RgCnjSkBui96Fs5dQ3rni3L75VR5n1YLA-nx_oMrDvAuZRLNqUw/s200/BA_V4AcCAAEfhix.jpg+large.jpeg" width="200" /></a>—But... what happens? What's wrong? You can't go en pointe? Did you hurt your feet?<br />—No, <i>madame</i>... but...<br />—Then what...? Just tell me, it's okay...!<br />—I... I forgot... to put the... the cotton in my pointes...<br />—But how come? When you put your pointes on you always put some padding in them...!<br />—I know, <i>madame</i>... but this time I... I forgot!<br />—Okay, okay, don't worry... but remember the cotton for our next class!</blockquote>
So there you go. Don't forget your cotton. Or whatever you put on your toes to make pointe work just... bearable.<br />
And keep dancing anyway!<br />
Nerea. </div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-91781403276661919582013-03-03T21:05:00.001+01:002013-03-04T15:20:16.190+01:00Another trip to London<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello!</div>
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</div>
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So it's already been about a week since I came back from another trip to London. This journey was easier and more pleasant than the last one, since I was able to travel by Eurostar instead of by bus.</div>
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You may wonder why I would want to go to London again after only three months since my last visit. Well, actually February 21st was Tamara Rojo's last performance at the Royal Opera House, with the Royal Ballet (the company she left in order to become English National Ballet's new artistic director). And you know that I really, really love her as a dancer, so I couldn't miss it. Plus, she was going to dance along with Sergei Polunin, one of the most amazing dancers of his generation, who shocked the dance world when he left the Royal Ballet last year.</div>
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So yeah. I had to ask for a free day at school, because I always work on Fridays and the performance was on Thursday. I also work on Thursdays, but I managed to find a train at 15:15, so I rushed from work to the train station all dressed up for the gala at the ROH. I met my friend Rosa next to the ROH shop. We had been talking for ages via Facebook, but we had never seen each other in real life. She's also a big Tamara fan, so we had decided we would go together to her last performance with the RB. It was amazing to share this experience with her!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSKdGSrc_zkIBCOeSDycVHJgrDzQcfXvxsv1HIHFbg_QixHklFyEuPCV5M9RYyWtBq0ahpnUWezvNu7zg8dAlOtNjWXGA-zGoHH6QVNB3mLJ-q22fACjrXDvRfv-_Y4omSeE_eGz1IQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSKdGSrc_zkIBCOeSDycVHJgrDzQcfXvxsv1HIHFbg_QixHklFyEuPCV5M9RYyWtBq0ahpnUWezvNu7zg8dAlOtNjWXGA-zGoHH6QVNB3mLJ-q22fACjrXDvRfv-_Y4omSeE_eGz1IQ/s320/1.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo © Bill Cooper/Royal Opera House </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The performance itself was amazing. It was a Frederick Ashton mixed bill, which included <i>La Valse</i> (which I had already seen in October during the <i>ROH Gala</i>, and for some reason I liked it better back then), <i>Meditation</i> from <i>Thaïs</i> (which was beautifully performed by Leanne Benjamin and Valeri Hristov), <i>Voices of Spring</i> (by the lovely Yuhui Choe and Alexander Campbell, who were perfect and a joy to watch), <i>Monotones I & II</i> (not my favourite pieces, but still they are perfect to show the beautiful lines and technique of the Royal Ballet dancers) and <i>Marguerite and Armand</i> (the piece Tamara and Sergei were going to dance, which was created on the legendary ballet couple Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev). The audience was waiting for the last part to arrive, and when it did, it was breathtaking. Literally. Since Armand met Marguerite until she died in his arms I couldn't even hear the audience breathe. An absolute silence. And... oh, Sergei and Tamara. Oh. That was beautiful. Perfect. You got me. I feel so privileged for having seen you both dancing live. Thank you.</div>
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</div>
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And it is clear that London loves Tamara. They love her so much. That endless flower cascade, that thunderous applause, those meaningful tears. She can never have too many. She will be sorely missed at the Royal Opera House... and no wonder, because she is one of the greatest ballerinas of her generation.
The only thing that makes me sad is that in her country -in my country-
people don't appreciate her. It is so sad that she had to leave Spain
in order to become the star she deserves to be.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFaaDC4F-jN2u02wZG-mpCcGhO23mmL0BfQKwKuUygjOeoNI1Ik2I6TjFdAgU0gwfg29pqE7dCmeRZ-pvFvVfmqmpAwTkDvqWxhJ4MBsHW9BdYeLjGgs8StY59yvJSG1KM5XLgJZOHA/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFaaDC4F-jN2u02wZG-mpCcGhO23mmL0BfQKwKuUygjOeoNI1Ik2I6TjFdAgU0gwfg29pqE7dCmeRZ-pvFvVfmqmpAwTkDvqWxhJ4MBsHW9BdYeLjGgs8StY59yvJSG1KM5XLgJZOHA/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamara and Sergei taking their bows. She's holding some of the thousands of flowers they threw for her farewell.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway!
I can't wait to buy the DVD of that final performance! Opus Arte has
already confirmed that they will release it at the end of the year or in 2014. I
am so happy! It truly was a night to remember.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also,
after the show we waited for the dancers at the stage door. I got Yuhui
Choe's autograph and I also was in the presence of Kevin O'Hare, Dame
Monica Mason, Carlos Acosta, Lauren Cuthbertson, Bennet Gartside (who
signed a beautiful photograph for me) and others... And of course, we met Sergei Polunin and Tamara Rojo, who signed programmes and took pictures with people. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68y1jPC4m6B_QllH4gm1ZLWgdfF0XwtwB1Ik2RPWekhf7rMIuHq8lQh63kRO4oRcmri1jU1Bf6-nY_ZcnIZ1tJGzPGle3538npxNZcdFbIlPmb8TY7lGu51lSWdTRqpbOX3iB7w9rsA/s1600/moiTRSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68y1jPC4m6B_QllH4gm1ZLWgdfF0XwtwB1Ik2RPWekhf7rMIuHq8lQh63kRO4oRcmri1jU1Bf6-nY_ZcnIZ1tJGzPGle3538npxNZcdFbIlPmb8TY7lGu51lSWdTRqpbOX3iB7w9rsA/s320/moiTRSP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Tamara Rojo and Sergei Polunin. ROH stage door after Marguerite and Armand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I spent the next days in London with Rosa, visiting museums (we went to the Tate Modern, to the Victoria & Albert and we visited the British Museum twice). We went to The Globe, Shakespeare's theatre, which was so great. We were assigned a very funny old lady as our guide and we were able to attend a little demonstration of how people used to get dressed during the Elizabethan era, as well as some sword fighting theatre rehearsals. Lots of fun! We also wandered around Covent Garden (we bought Royal Ballet's <i>Onegin</i> posters and a pair of new Bloch pointe shoes for me) and we had a walk at Portobello Road, where she bought a red scarf (Little Lotte!) and I purchased an old vinyl record of the Original London Cast of <i>The Phantom of the Opera</i>. Finally, we went to the Royal Albert Hall and to the English National Ballet's headquarters (but we didn't go in, we just walked around - we're not stalkers!). Oh, and last but not least... we met James McAvoy at the stage door of <i>Macbeth</i>, where he is performing now! He really is the sweetest! We got his autograph and a picture with him.</div>
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I also had some time to spend with Chris, whom I hadn't seen since his last visit to Paris in December. We had a coffee at Prêt (well, I had a hot chocolate) and then we went for dinner at Pizza Express, next to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. He really is some good company! We'll see each other again in March. We have tickets for the Paris Opera Ballet, to see a Roland Petit programme at the Palais Garnier. I can't wait!</div>
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And finally, on Monday, the day I had to come back to Paris, I met Alejandro, a Spanish Twitter friend who lives in London. He invited me for lunch and then we went to the Casino at Leicester Square, where we had free drinks because he's a friend of the place. It was very nice to meet him and her friend Esther in real life!</div>
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So that was pretty much my second trip to London of the season. I honestly hope I can go to live there very soon. It really is a magical city!</div>
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<br />
Nerea.</div>
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PS.: I think the hostel we stayed in deserves a little comment. Horrible place (there was no space!), but lots of fun, I have to admit!</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-64371945257129505122013-02-06T19:18:00.000+01:002016-03-28T12:20:04.818+02:00Loads of questions<div style="text-align: justify;">
About a month ago, Kristen of the amazing <a href="http://adultballerinaproject.com/" target="_blank">Adult Ballerina Project</a> invited me to answer some of her questions for a "Ballerina Profile" post on her blog.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHbhfYJ7ztTj3xra_h16n8rADLlNUtCTyuZ87Xm78LiG-2cSNJNUtxy-tz2Ti60fEwO8-n6JzvQvRR-6aBWNbfvRwF6jJ6pVJA31GvB2dAnZiFPcE9YIp53Ha50Ji4BGoKBgJqFCsSg/s1600/Kitri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHbhfYJ7ztTj3xra_h16n8rADLlNUtCTyuZ87Xm78LiG-2cSNJNUtxy-tz2Ti60fEwO8-n6JzvQvRR-6aBWNbfvRwF6jJ6pVJA31GvB2dAnZiFPcE9YIp53Ha50Ji4BGoKBgJqFCsSg/s200/Kitri.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moi as Kitri! - Photo by Carlos Ochoa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I thought you would like to read the interview... and I really hope you like it because it was lots of fun. Thanks a lot to Kristen; make sure you check out her blog. It's designed to create a community of adult dancers who share a passion for the art!</div>
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<br /></div>
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And you can read my interview by clicking <a href="http://adultballerinaproject.com/ballerina-profile-nerea-of-interpreting-en-pointe/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Keep dancing!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nerea.</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-77222483908943092562013-01-21T14:47:00.000+01:002013-01-25T22:42:16.520+01:00I am confused<div style="text-align: justify;">
I guess one of the most exciting parts of ballet is that you can go to any place in the world, take a class and be able to understand the teacher, even if you hardly speak their language.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The thing is, I do speak French, so I thought ballet classes would be quite easy to follow... especially since almost the whole terminology is always in French (even in Spain). But NO, nice reader! Things are not that simple. And you know why? Well, because in France a <i>tendu</i> is not the same thing as my Spanish teachers used to say! Here, a <i>tendu</i> is called a <i>dégagé</i>. And things would be fine if that was the only difference. But NO, because the word <i>tendu</i> also exists. A <i>tendu</i> in France is the fact of not <i>pliéing</i> when doing a movement. For example, you're in first position and you want to go on pointe: without bending your knees, you just go to <i>demi-pointe</i> and then to <i>pointe.</i> That would be a <i>relevé en tendu.</i> And I have to say I actually find it very practical: very precise!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then there are many other things that have changed. For instance, I have never heard my teacher use the word <i>passé</i>. Never ever. She says something that sounds like <i>jarret</i> or <i>jarré</i> or something like that. If you're French I'd be thankful if you could help me with this one!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also... it seems that our arms are never in fifth position. They are in <i>couronne</i>, which is a rather cool word. Oh, and <i>jetés</i> are no longer just <i>jetés</i>: they are now <i>battement jetés</i>. And <i>grand battements</i> are usually just <i>battements</i>. And <i>pas de chats</i> have now became<i> sauts de chat</i>! And I've heard my teacher say <i>pique </i>(/pik/), instead of <i>piqué</i> (/pik-ay/), but I'm still not sure if she says so just to fit words better with the music.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then there are lots of new words. For example, a <i>déroulé</i> is this thing we do to practise with our pointe shoes and break them in. Starting in first position, <i>plié</i>, <i>demi-pointe</i>, <i>pointe</i>, <i>tendu</i> (like, straightening our legs) and then <i>demi-pointe</i> and heel to the ground in <i>tendu</i>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Still, even if I am a little bit confused, I am loving every single second of class and I feel I am learning so much. I am really happy to have found this school and these amazing teachers. They are an absolute joy to take class with!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBLM0s1JVhP1mMgVHrO4a0oAfAZ-KGkBSwP2-Cn2WmCPIas72B8X6iA-0H0vsx9SFi-4a6N8M1aksycoEsyfePP8m6WiV6mlvrnmHpTZ7UhQFZOKnXps2QP6xpjKl9AGOP6ZdCDfA2w/s1600/Tamara+y+Sergei+en+M&A+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBLM0s1JVhP1mMgVHrO4a0oAfAZ-KGkBSwP2-Cn2WmCPIas72B8X6iA-0H0vsx9SFi-4a6N8M1aksycoEsyfePP8m6WiV6mlvrnmHpTZ7UhQFZOKnXps2QP6xpjKl9AGOP6ZdCDfA2w/s320/Tamara+y+Sergei+en+M&A+5.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also, one month left to see this live! - Tamara Rojo and Sergei Polunin in <i>Marguerite and Armand</i>. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Until next time, keep dancing!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nerea.</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-49825699580303287822012-12-02T14:46:00.000+01:002012-12-02T16:13:29.448+01:00Turning as Kitri in Paris!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I found a studio!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
An awesome studio with an awesome ballet teacher who also teaches awesomeness at the Paris Opera Ballet. She's brilliant, funny, clever and a really beautiful dancer. I feel really, really lucky, nice reader. And dancing again feels great. I missed it so much!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And the school is this one: <a href="http://www.institut-stanlowa.com/" target="_blank">http://www.institut-stanlowa.com</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It looks really good. The teachers are all from the Paris Opera Ballet; there are even some <i>étoiles</i> teaching. Also, they take teaching adults seriously! And there is live piano music! So I can't be happier right now.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I leave you with something that happened yesterday in pointe class.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
*Piano plays Don Quixote coda music*<br />
Teacher: <i>Okay! Don Quixote music? Well then, we're gonna do the 32 turns!</i><br />
Class: <i>HAHAHAHAHA!</i><br />
Teacher: <i>I'm serious!</i><br />
Class: <i>OH, OKAY.</i> <br />
And then we turned. Or something!</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To be honest, we weren't doing fouettés, nor pirouettes. Just normal turns in fifth position. But some REALLY FAST TURNS! By the end of them I was so dizzy I couldn't see properly. MUST.WORK.ON.SPOTTING.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpSmVzIph9el-Ek52K4ronLPcVrqCr-cEeDp20qpQdMVZ8SsTj75AB3SY0cVqzHhQMcDGfaLgrFx9FJglyxJS3fXMQsfwM4ZxuKpvARuddDZX3GmhDIy4aKQMKyLoL_BSDbG_GRFAzg/s1600/dq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpSmVzIph9el-Ek52K4ronLPcVrqCr-cEeDp20qpQdMVZ8SsTj75AB3SY0cVqzHhQMcDGfaLgrFx9FJglyxJS3fXMQsfwM4ZxuKpvARuddDZX3GmhDIy4aKQMKyLoL_BSDbG_GRFAzg/s320/dq.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this pic of Polina Semionova and Cory Stearns from ABT rehearsing <i>Don Quixote</i> in Barcelona. Photo by Renata Pavam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Keep dancing!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nerea. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-61202121013917007862012-11-05T15:37:00.001+01:002012-11-05T15:37:12.032+01:00Ballet class in Paris<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I told you a few days ago that I was attending my first ballet class in Paris.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, it hapenned before I went to London. I'm still not sure if I liked it or not. Which, now that I think of it, probably means that I didn't (?)... or not much, at least.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC-qAt0OvZpwFBFtYkBRjWtU9Thzl0qJFi_oeuRBj417om5_RHpe25gcjk1rkSHGMAVtXVET50knOvBtWfprR6bY4YQX5DVMajcc_fFncH35k22pMgtltexjmuoA4VE5siQrvo6nT5w/s1600/leo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC-qAt0OvZpwFBFtYkBRjWtU9Thzl0qJFi_oeuRBj417om5_RHpe25gcjk1rkSHGMAVtXVET50knOvBtWfprR6bY4YQX5DVMajcc_fFncH35k22pMgtltexjmuoA4VE5siQrvo6nT5w/s200/leo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New leos make Nerea happy, though!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The thing is, I felt the level was too high for me, maybe. Well, not exactly too high. I guess I could have got used to it after two or three classes. Barre was nice, fast, challenging. I liked it. It made me feel like I was dancing again after such a long time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But there was this moment that I didn't particularly enjoy: even if the teacher was nice and a beautiful dancer, when we got to the centre, she showed quite a long combination (not particularly hard, but really, really long), and by the time it was our turn and (of course) we messed everything up, she said something like: "okay, what do you want me to tell you? that wasn't even worth commenting. Now you don't get to repeat it".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What the what, nice reader? I mean, seriously! If none of your students can do something right, it's probably because you didn't explain it properly, isn't it? And how the hell do you want them to learn if you don't let them repeat the whole thing after they mess everything up?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I guess I'm going to try at another studio.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Keep dancing!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nerea.</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-59842016761098087522012-11-01T23:40:00.000+01:002012-11-02T20:31:29.654+01:00London's got something special!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It really does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIV8MXahxASwD0A54unzXEek91S1Tacp1ONrs6u7ENrCIVN7IRrm4HgEglW_o47JLOPng2ANv_dqlxr9FJwKlhHrKNLhmc0vX6CLLBBCegWnZIn162R8ZArbOcQ34OEXYGNAXthCdPA/s1600/bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIV8MXahxASwD0A54unzXEek91S1Tacp1ONrs6u7ENrCIVN7IRrm4HgEglW_o47JLOPng2ANv_dqlxr9FJwKlhHrKNLhmc0vX6CLLBBCegWnZIn162R8ZArbOcQ34OEXYGNAXthCdPA/s200/bb.jpg" width="200" /></a>Ever since I went to study at the University of Westminster almost
three years ago I knew that city had something different. <b>Something perfect</b>. I
went to London last Saturday and I arrived back in Paris this morning. I still
am quite unsure if the previous five days of my life were real or if I was just
dreaming. Let me explain you the whole thing from the beginning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So about two weeks ago I was in Paris, looking forward to
the holidays because teenagers are not always very easy to deal with… and then
Chris asked me via Twitter if I was doing something special for those days. He kindly
said he had a spare standing ticket for <i>Swan Lake</i> at the Royal Opera House (all
the tickets for this production are sold out since months ago), so… after
struggling a lot to find and affordable way to get to London in time, I finally
found a cheap night bus ticket and got really excited for my journey. Right
after that I said on Twitter that I was visiting London soon, so I ended up
arranging meetings with lots of amazing people, like <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zebra_ballerina" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Zebra</span></span></a> (I know what your real name is, of
course, just privacy reasons and stuff!), <a href="http://ballerinahead.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Nina</span></span></a> and <a href="http://www.davetriesballet.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Dave</span></span></a> (who told me I should go to the <i>ROH Gala</i> on Tuesday and was
kind enough to phone the box office and book a cheap ticket for me!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So with those amazing plans in mind I got ready for my trip
on Friday night, right after I finished some really hard lessons at the high
school. Going from Paris to London by bus is not an easy job. It’s a nine and a
half-hour-long trip, during which you can’t sleep properly, mostly because you
need to go up and down the vehicle many times, in order to show your passport
at the border or to get in the boat which crosses the English Channel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, so after a super long trip where I met a nice
Belgian guy, I finally got to London Victoria at 5.30 am. It was absolutely
freezing in and outside of the station, but I had to wait at least until the sun
rose to be able to phone my friend Sara, with whom I’ve stayed these days
(thank you!). So I waited for three hours sitting on a cold chair at the
station, covered with my coat and the towels I’d brought in my suitcase… and
still I think I’ve never been that cold in my whole life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But a few hours later it didn’t matter anymore. I went to
Sara’s house, which is big and great, and she’s lovely; I slept for an hour, I
got dressed to go to Covent Garden, had a delicious <b>lunch</b> with Chris (well, it
was actually <b>dinner</b> for him) while talking about languages (especially Russian
and also about my problems when it comes to speaking two foreign languages at
almost the same time), and then we went to the Royal Opera House to see <i>Swan
Lake</i>. We arrived quite early, so he showed me the building and we went to the
box office, where he suddenly remembered that you can do backstage tours at the
ROH, so I booked a ticket for Wednesday morning (what a <b>great</b> decision, you
guys!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As for <i>Swan Lake</i>, it was beautiful. Alina Cojocaru was a
sweet, childish Odette, yet an <b>extremely sexy and seductive</b> Odile. I have to
admit I was really looking forward to seeing Act III because Alina is normally
so lovely and adorable that I couldn’t imagine her as a fierce black swan. But
yes, of course, she did it, and it was extraordinary. Federico Bonelli was on <b>great
form</b> as prince Sigfried. He’s got such a beautiful technique! And he’s also
really nice: he helped Chris solve the technical issues with my mobile phone
while I was having my picture taken with him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEm9pfy9RzplI3sftaWn2XGtfX7itzqrebzDMjgdqan7Zsv5NTq5V5zs8oXph5yo3-f0fAL3YvTtwDOGeuzUHPrjGUnyaadIAsYgbpLfYZ-LnXKh9bQbhlYwJIDwi_cD3fkH2IhDsoQ/s1600/AlinaFedYo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEm9pfy9RzplI3sftaWn2XGtfX7itzqrebzDMjgdqan7Zsv5NTq5V5zs8oXph5yo3-f0fAL3YvTtwDOGeuzUHPrjGUnyaadIAsYgbpLfYZ-LnXKh9bQbhlYwJIDwi_cD3fkH2IhDsoQ/s320/AlinaFedYo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina Cojocaru, Federico Bonelli and myself. ROH's stage door after <i>Swan Lake</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In other news, I have to say that it is absolutely worth it
buying standing tickets at the ROH. You get a full view of the stage for a
really good price and you can rest your arms on a <i>barre</i>, so you don’t get tired…
as long as you aren’t wearing high heels, of course. I will do it again at some
point, for sure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The ROH is also a beautiful place to meet interesting
people. The night I went to see <i>Swan Lake</i> I met <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bangorballetboy" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Lee</span></span></a>, and it was a pleasure to stand with him and
Chris waiting for the dancers at the Stage Door. I also met Thomas, a German
doctor working in Cambridge who was sitting next to me at the theatre, who
invited me to a glass of champagne and with whom I had a very interesting
conversation on opera, ballet, languages and working abroad. I saw him twice
again during the week, but we’ll get to that part of the story later.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBMr5UlX-xhyHxOxs6hlMcLYvuPL1ZM0-LtUw-7S19YSUGIfKkeAIJces9J9BfOxqSLsE0Vx8UzfHk5YLFnn_zwu_dlkMudOuRts9iLUSzdDipDXp00XhXoOO6F0AS7cqNB3s-2LmYA/s1600/pc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBMr5UlX-xhyHxOxs6hlMcLYvuPL1ZM0-LtUw-7S19YSUGIfKkeAIJces9J9BfOxqSLsE0Vx8UzfHk5YLFnn_zwu_dlkMudOuRts9iLUSzdDipDXp00XhXoOO6F0AS7cqNB3s-2LmYA/s200/pc.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picadilly Circus by night.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I hadn’t got anything scheduled for Sunday, so I ended up walking
around the city, doing some improvised sightseeing and taking many photos. I
took the Tube and started at Notting Hill Gate, walked next to Hyde Park until
I got to Oxford Circus and Regent Street (were I had a delicious Kit-Kat
McFlurry). Then I walked down Regent St to Picadilly Circus, took Haymarket
Street and took a picture of <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Her
Majesty’s Theatre</span></span> (the venue for my favourite musical of all time: <i>The
Phantom Of The Opera</i>)… so you can imagine how much I wanted to go inside that
building! From there I went to Trafalgar Square, which was really crowded
because they were celebrating some kind of music festival. Later on I took the
street that goes down to Westminster. I stopped next to Downing Street to take
a picture and got asked by a French tourist if I knew what that place was and
why there were so many people looking at that fence. After explaining it to
her, I went straight to Westminster Abbey and to the <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Houses of Parliament</span></span>… and finally I crossed the
bridge until I got next to the London Eye. Then I thought it was time to go
back, so I walked again to Trafalgar Square and took a different path to get to
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Picadilly Circus</span></span>. This
time I walked around the West End to see the venues for the rest of the
musicals, such as<span style="background-color: white;"> <i><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Les Misérables</span></i></span>
(maybe in a desperate wish to find Sierra Boggess walking around, since she is
now the leading lady in that production). I also went to China Town and to
Covent Garden one last time to take <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">a picture of the ROH at night</span>.</span> Then I was tired, so… time for some
sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On Monday I wanted to see Nina, but she got stuck at university,
so we decided to meet the day after. No problem! Change of plans, then. Luckily
Thomas phoned me. He said he could come to London in the afternoon, so I waited
for him next to the statue at Picadilly and there I met a guy who wanted to
invite me to a cigarette (but no, sorry, I don’t smoke) and also a really nice
Italian guy who was in London to go to a concert with some friends. We had
quite an interesting conversation! When Thomas arrived he told me we should go to
see a musical. Quite shocked, since I wasn’t expecting to have such an exciting
evening, I said I loved <i>Phantom</i>, so he <b>invited</b> me to see the show… and I
invited him for dinner in exchange. You cannot even have a remote idea of how
much it meant to me to see <i>Phantom</i> on a Monday. <b>On a Monday evening!</b> The day
when the amazing Anna O’Byrne leads the show. <b>Anna O’Byrne!</b> Like… only one of
my favourite musical actresses of all time (along with Sierra Boggess)… playing
my favourite musical role of all time, Christine Daaé?! Seeing her LIVE?!? Come
on, just look at her in this video; isn’t she just perfect?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pC7YO3MkT3A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Of course, the production of [The Brilliant Original] <i>Phantom</i>
is simply sublime. The cast is incredible, the music is wonderful and the story
is heartbreaking… No wonder it’s running since 26 years ago. I cried a little, as
usual.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLLM4_VyICpBUoykxMaOpSlgczqD5dScwW9qkrdDU-wuYGyLWk0sVGj5cZ4nugtg3LGW2i3m4QnEEqf3QULvR5nf05z_MGk3ifk_EulkLUhHr8pxqUlFLPOxE6QgFATUT-VGBQnzkmg/s1600/aob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLLM4_VyICpBUoykxMaOpSlgczqD5dScwW9qkrdDU-wuYGyLWk0sVGj5cZ4nugtg3LGW2i3m4QnEEqf3QULvR5nf05z_MGk3ifk_EulkLUhHr8pxqUlFLPOxE6QgFATUT-VGBQnzkmg/s200/aob.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful and talented Anna O'Byrne!<i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anna portrayed a <b>phantastic</b> young Christine. I specially
loved it when she sang <i>Whishing You Were Somehow Here Again</i>. It’s such a
beautiful, emotive song with an unbelievably hard ending… and she made it look
so effortless. She was also really kind when we waited for her at the stage
door. She talked with us for a while and we had our pictures taken with her and
everything was perfect. Except for the picture maybe, which is quite dark.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After the stage door I had coffee and more conversation in
Covent Garden with Thomas, who told me (among other things) that he had
attended one part of Wagner’s <i>The Ring</i> the day before at the Royal Opera House.
It was a six-hour-long show, but he said it is really worth it seeing and that
the ending is especially amazing. Then we went back home.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Finally Tuesday morning! I got dressed quite nicely for the
ROH Gala that I was attending that night. Then I went back to Leicester Square
and had lunch at Burguer King (because that’s a big place where I could easily
find a seat and get connected to the Internet comfortably… and also because I
think it’s very classy to go to a junk food restaurant all dressed up for a <b>jet
set gala</b>). An hour later I went to Picadilly Circus to finally meet Zebra, who
was really, really nice. We walked towards Covent Garden and visited many
ballet shops which were <b>amazing</b> and I still can’t believe I had never been to
any of those before. Beautiful leotards, shrugs, leg warmers, skirts, tutus,
flat and pointe shoes… just perfect! We need more of these shops in Spain! And
then Nina sent me a text message, so we met her at the ROH shop (it was great
to see her again after a year!) and we went for a walk around Covent Garden
while talking about the ROH and its productions, its dancers, its friends,
other tweeps and stuff. Fun talk, yay!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Zebra and Nina had to leave quite early, so I said goodbye
and waited for Thomas to arrive to Covent Garden. I told him I was attending
the gala that night, so he decided he wanted to come too. We went to the box
office at the ROH and somehow we managed to get a ticket for him. We had dinner
around there and at 7 pm we headed towards the ROH shop, where <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">Dave</span></span> was waiting with my
ticket for the gala. I was really looking forward to meeting him in real life,
and even though we could only see each other for a little while (since the ROH
was really crowded that night), it was really cool!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The gala was <b>sublime</b>. I was sitting on one of the cheapest
seats of the house, so I obviously didn’t have the best view of the stage… but
I found it really good actually! I couldn’t see the back of the stage, but I
was so close to it that I could perfectly see what was going on at the wings,
see the dancer’s faces and even hear them breathe, which may sound quite
creepy, but it’s a good way to realise that they were <i>actually</i> there! And also,
since I was so close to the stage I could see the rest of the audience from a
very good perspective. This means I could see Her Majesty, the Queen (yes, she
was there!) during the whole show.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So let’s talk about the gala itself! It was a mixed
programme with lots of dancing and arias from operas, with video interviews
with the staff of the ROH, their artists, their employees, their friends (including
Dave!)… a rather special evening. To be honest, I didn’t know what I was going
to see, since I hadn’t been able to read the programme before the show started.
I absolutely had no idea I was going to see almost all of my favourite dancers
together in only one night. Back in Spain I have a very good friend (and former
ballet classmate) with whom I always talk about the gorgeous Natalia Osipova. This
friend of mine went to see her last Saturday in Barcelona, in the role of Kitri
(<i>Don Quixote</i>). She told me she loved it! And no wonder she loved it, because
Osipova is amazing. What a surprise when I saw her there, dancing <i>Ambar</i> with
Edward Watson! And then Alina Cojocaru and Carsten Jung danced a quite joyful pas
de deux by Neumeier (<i>Liliom</i>); then we got to see Ashton’s <i>La Valse</i>, by the
artists of the Royal Ballet, which was spectacular, with the stage full of
dancers. Later, Sarah Lamb and Steven McRae danced a new pas de deux by
Alastair Marriott, <i>In the Hothouse</i>. Oh, and I also finally got to see MacMillan’s
<i>Farewell</i> pas de deux, from <i>Winter Dreams</i>, wonderfully performed by Nehemiah
Kish and Roberta Marquez. As regards the operas, I found particularly stunning Dvorak’s
<i>Song to the Moon</i> (<i>Rusalka</i>, Act I), sung by Angela Gheorghiu, and also Bizet’s <i>Habanera</i>
from <i>Carmen</i> (also sung by Miss Gheorghiu). But my highlight of the night would
probably be <i>After the Rain</i>, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with Arvo
Pärt’s <i>Spiegel im Spiegel</i> music (which I absolutely love) and superbly danced
by principal dancers Marianela Núñez and Thiago Soares… just glorious. I must
admit I was teary eyed by the end of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The gala finished with a fast and amazing <i>Jubilee pas de
deux</i> choreographed by Liam Scarlett (I think that man is a genius) and danced
by Laura Morera and Federico Bonelli… and also with Giacomo Puccini’s <i>Te Deum</i>,
from Act I of the opera <i>Tosca</i>, sung by a splendid Bryn Terfel. Right after that,
the Queen went onstage and Laura Morera gave her a cute flower bouquet… and the
whole audience sang the National Anthem (<i>God Save the Queen</i>) together. That
was… just wow. You know I’m not British but… seriously, <b>wow</b>. That was honestly one
of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen live.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBocBpsos-7lZzB6hL8oc5goZcMKzoyexhAEGVU0_m1fMPByN4cQlv1GWcQV0ucJ4l6p8Z1dlGYNhKVdiB4LhrKGDia9K6PgiSBKdlpBImDM8jtN1P1kZCdDlm3awWxs6qAMlKFmHtw/s1600/hm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBocBpsos-7lZzB6hL8oc5goZcMKzoyexhAEGVU0_m1fMPByN4cQlv1GWcQV0ucJ4l6p8Z1dlGYNhKVdiB4LhrKGDia9K6PgiSBKdlpBImDM8jtN1P1kZCdDlm3awWxs6qAMlKFmHtw/s200/hm.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing <i>God Save the Queen</i>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Woah. That was so amazing! Too many incredible things had
happened in four days. Too many unbelievable things for me to be able to get a
good sleep! Anyway, Wednesday was my last day in London. My bus was leaving at
21.30, and even though I still had one trip left to the ROH in the morning, I
wasn’t really expecting much of it. I was wrong. <b>Oh, how wrong I was!</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The backstage tour at the Royal Opera House was magical. Our
guide was a young and funny woman who led us throughout the building while
telling us fantastic secrets about its construction and also about the
foundation of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera. We were lucky enough to get
a seat on the best stalls of the theatre while they were building the set for <i>Sigfried</i>.
I found it very funny when the woman said: “and there, do you know why there
are flowers on that balcony? Because yesterday night we had a gala here and the
Queen was sitting there!” And everybody went “woah!” And I thought: “yes, yes,
there she was! I could see her during the whole show!”</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K6oWEbIV6zbmz1Pg4I6fyIWk24Mw80BA6jfJayvciPvLeZoymnAFD4THWspvXqFhkP01lqtgHsdmqybgAT-E8nsqjewFAjrUG5-daEYIJxCVF0yNJC4FpK71czbvnmAGAm5G-y-Ugw/s1600/roh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K6oWEbIV6zbmz1Pg4I6fyIWk24Mw80BA6jfJayvciPvLeZoymnAFD4THWspvXqFhkP01lqtgHsdmqybgAT-E8nsqjewFAjrUG5-daEYIJxCVF0yNJC4FpK71czbvnmAGAm5G-y-Ugw/s200/roh.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royal Opera House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And then we got to see the set for act three of <i>Swan Lake</i>,
which is so cool, with all the mirrors and everything, and we watched a DVD on
how they build sets and they bring them to the ROH, and we went to the place
where they make the costumes and props and we could touch many of them and try
them on… and then… then we went to the dancers’ part of the building and… we
watched a rehearsal for the next triple bill. And that was just <b>tutu much</b>, you
guys. <b>Tutu much I say!</b> There they were, just two metres away from me,
rehearsing with Liam Scarlett and Wayne McGregor! Marianela Núñez, Sarah Lamb,
Eric Underwood, Edward Watson, Yuhui Choe, Ricardo Cervera, Olivia Cowley… and
all the others were also around there, just chilling out, relaxing, warming up
and chatting. Surreal. But obviously that’s how it is! I mean, I was just
absolutely amazed for being there and being able to watch!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And then it was over, I was still in shock and I went to
meet Chris for the last time. We had coffee, chocolate, tea and an apple juice.
It was very nice to see him again and I’m already looking forward to our trip
to the <i>Opéra Bastille</i> together in December! We said goodbye: he went to see a <i>ROH
Insights </i>programme while I took the Tube back to the Victoria Coach Station.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In the bus back to Paris I met a Welsh guy who was sitting
next to me and I still don’t know if I forgot all my English at once, or if his
accent was simply impossible to understand. We had some drinks together in the
boat and he ended up being a really good travel companion. With a nice
conversation trips seem shorter, huh? When we arrived to Paris I had to help
him buy <i>Métro</i> tickets because he couldn’t speak French, which is quite a
problem if you come here alone and your English is hardly understandable by the
average people! Anyway, I got home at 7.30 am., went to bed until 12 pm and
here I am, writing this hyper long text because I don’t want to forget anything
that has happened during this wonderful trip to London.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And that was all, nice reader. Now I have to say that if
you’ve read the whole thing, you truly <b>are</b> nice, nice reader. Thank you!</div>
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See you soon, when I talk about that ballet lesson I took in
Paris!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Nerea.</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-89273170025093693012012-10-21T21:06:00.000+02:002012-10-22T11:35:19.232+02:00Thoughts from Paris...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh là là!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Long time no see, nice reader!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am in Paris! I arrived here almost a month ago and I am already working as a Spanish Language Assistant at two high schools near the Opéra Garnier... which is so cool and also kind of unbelievable! I'm starting to get used to this life: new home, new friends, new food, new things to discover...! It's truly amazing!<br />
<br />
As for my experience as a Spanish teacher, I must confess I was really scared during my first week. I still am (a little bit), but things are going better than expected. My students are mostly adorable and you can tell they want to learn lots of things. I guess I was lucky!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUkOdJG3sG1vzTAY9dA0wqDjXde3DAVk0_Maha14a2z7yV8nU3j2VDbGutbUIryfTCS-pnjZj0HPvfD6HbXgF2naExFOJNstVvYH_vrnSQybVvQCth27cImY1c8JmXfkKpw8-OXIGRg/s1600/te.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUkOdJG3sG1vzTAY9dA0wqDjXde3DAVk0_Maha14a2z7yV8nU3j2VDbGutbUIryfTCS-pnjZj0HPvfD6HbXgF2naExFOJNstVvYH_vrnSQybVvQCth27cImY1c8JmXfkKpw8-OXIGRg/s200/te.jpg" width="200" /></a>Tomorrow I'm going to my first ballet class since the end of June (that's a four-month-long break!). I'm probably attending three hours a week. I'd go to the studio everyday, but life in Paris is expensive, you guys. I'm a little bit nervous, you know; it's a new studio and a class in a foreign language (which I do speak, but whatever!). So I hope everything goes well!<br />
<br />
Also, here in France we have holidays very soon, so I'm going to London next Friday to see the Royal Ballet in <i>Swan Lake</i> and, hopefully, <i>Les Misérables</i> and/or <i>Phantom of the Opera</i>, which are awesome musicals that happen to have the most beautiful casts right now at the West End. I'm obviously going to meet some tweeps while I'm in London, so if you're around and you want to meet up, just let me know!<br />
<br />
I have some other plans for the future: for instance, I'm going to see <i>Don Quixote</i> by the Paris Opera Ballet in December, at the Opéra Bastille, which is next to my house here in Paris... and I also managed to get an amazing ticket with the best view ever for Tamara Rojo and Sergei Polunin's farewell from the Royal Ballet, which is taking place in February at Covent Garden (yes, that's another trip to London!).<br />
<br />
And that's all for now. I'll try to keep writing now I have time and news!<br />
<br />
Nerea.</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com7París, Francia48.856614 2.352221948.773036 2.1942934 48.940192 2.5101504tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-27210446649098765222012-08-04T01:43:00.000+02:002016-03-28T12:43:57.807+02:00Graduated translator and jinxed dancer!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello, nice reader!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It's been a while! Let me explain you why! Lots of things have happened since that post in June. For real: LOTS of exciting things, so this is going to be quite a long text –consider yourself warned!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First of all, I spent the whole semester and, in particular, the whole of June working on my Bachelor's Degree Thesis, which was a didactic translation of Maurice Béjart's memoirs. As you can imagine, I had to work a lot, but still it was so much fun. I learned a lot, both about translation and about dance. It was a great experience. Then, the examining board seemed to like it a lot, which means that... I just graduated from university! I am now an official translator and interpreter, even though I am still not working. The good news is that I am going to Paris in October, to work as a Spanish Language Assistant at two high schools, which are located next to the Opéra Garnier. Isn't it exciting? Obviously, I have already registered myself in the POB website, because I'm planning a few trips to see them live. Duh!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, now I'm trying to find a flat in Paris, which is not an easy job, but I really hope I'll find something interesting and affordable before September! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mvkyVu4eKVNQTcmEwd3BFgS_QZd4iHTKaC6yxV_S3ECJZwgaG1G9npfRezyc-gbxl532WNqg-Sn-PXyuqrIX0GHJxeO1kEeq5V2sgIFhLy-NRW2qQqyPn719i4yjFztxtoDmBwvyow/s1600/cea20812bfb811e1b9f1123138140926_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mvkyVu4eKVNQTcmEwd3BFgS_QZd4iHTKaC6yxV_S3ECJZwgaG1G9npfRezyc-gbxl532WNqg-Sn-PXyuqrIX0GHJxeO1kEeq5V2sgIFhLy-NRW2qQqyPn719i4yjFztxtoDmBwvyow/s200/cea20812bfb811e1b9f1123138140926_7.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Thesis right after I finished it. It was time to celebrate!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In other news, I left my ballet studio a month ago, since I'm no longer going to live in Salamanca. It was really hard, nice reader.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We'd just done a beautiful performance for charity, for which we spent hours and hours at rehearsals. My life in June consisted basically on working on my Thesis, going to rehearsals, drinking water, eating food and sleeping (not much sleep, though). The day of the performance was brilliant. I had planned with my ballet classmates that we were going to make the most of it and enjoy it as if it was our last show, which we did. The rehearsals at the theatre were exciting, our group lunch was lots of fun and the performances were all fantastic. I took part on two dances from La Bayadère; the first one being the Fire Dance from the first act, and the second one, the D'Jampe with the ribbons (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An7_zOMt4Nw" target="_blank">here</a>'s the video to the second one. Try to find me!). Also, my teacher choreographed a piece for us in, like, two weeks, with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWZEGCt6Xu8" target="_blank">Vivaldi's Andante, Concert for two mandolins</a>. And the last piece I danced in was the Fire Dance by Manuel de Falla, the same choreo we did in February. And I also had promised to my classmates I would try not to cry at the end... but I did, ok? But come on, it was my last day ever dancing with them! So I hugged my teacher while crying a LOT and then she told me that we could have a last class next Monday. So I stopped crying. Kind of.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then I went to class on Monday and she had prepared the most amazingest class ever. EVER. Because she's adorable! She taught us Kitri's variation from the last act of Don Quixote. Which is, like, one of my favourite variations ever. It was also very strange, because we usually don't learn variations in class, the only exception being an excerpt of a variation from Paquita, which we didn't master at all. Sure, we didn't really learn the whole Kitri variation properly (we only had 45 minutes and we were wearing flats), but it was amazing! And also very exhausting. So that was my last class at the studio in Salamanca. I said goodbye to everyone, crying twice as much as I had cried the day before, and I also got the opportunity to write a page in the book the teachers have there for everyone that has ever been a student at that academy and then has left. Emotions! Weirdness! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then... I came back to my hometown. And something kind of incredible happened! I have a friend who is a fashion designer. He's actually well known in Spain; he's good and has been invited to show his designs all around the world. So he was preparing a super big catwalk to celebrate his 25th anniversary as a fashion professional... and he asked me if I would like to dance during the spectacle, with one of his costumes and a fan. A FAN, you guys. You do know what came to my mind, right? KITRI. I'd just learned the variation and I had the chance to dance it en pointe, in front of thousands of people and wearing a gorgeous dress. So I said yes. The problem? Where could I rehearse? I had only done it once or twice and the show was one month away. So I talked to the mayor and he gave me permission to go to the local theatre to rehearse as many hours as I wanted, as many days as I needed. A theatre, nice reader. Not a really big theatre, but it's got a floor made of linoleum, just for me and my pointe shoes. Greatest thing ever. And this is the result of one of the afternoons I spent there:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fj1Ls8WBLQo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And that's pretty much it. The day of the performance was actually not fun AT ALL. I woke up early because my father phoned me. He was at the place where the show was going to be held that night. Even though the non-permanent structure was designed for a catwalk, there was also a really big stage for me to dance on and for the models to stay at. The problem now? The organiser hadn't thought of a little person EN POINTE, who could not dance on a wooden and absolutely irregular floor. So I got dressed really quickly and went there almost running, to check it out. Exactly. It was absolutely impossible to dance on that surface. I put my pointe shoes on and tried to do it, but I was so afraid of falling off the shoes that I immediately had to say I wouldn't dance that night. Then I saw the long and narrow stage that was prepared for the catwalk. Its floor was so much better! I decided I could change a few things of the choreo, in order to adapt it to the super narrow stage and to the public, looking at me from both sides.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjTTqeo-ZlDhRGVrOsHAFWoDg0cYdiPObFfwKihYhs0xLvtVq8zbWnnt2WVj_yRBIftrWeki5sHMbEptIORR4RycCJdBjPsDF5BTKkvlwcHf_wv0XzUxCj8mi5bXjIHdUgPZO8ksQUA/s1600/c024e59ed40711e1adda22000a1e869b_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjTTqeo-ZlDhRGVrOsHAFWoDg0cYdiPObFfwKihYhs0xLvtVq8zbWnnt2WVj_yRBIftrWeki5sHMbEptIORR4RycCJdBjPsDF5BTKkvlwcHf_wv0XzUxCj8mi5bXjIHdUgPZO8ksQUA/s200/c024e59ed40711e1adda22000a1e869b_7.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Myself trying to adapt the choreo to the tiny stage. The show was to be held that night.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I spent there like half an hour and then stopped because all the pedestrians had decided that it was more fun to look at me, desperated, marking and doing weird moves, than to continue with their walk. So I went to the theatre. And even though I didn't have any tights, I spent an hour or so rehearsing. BIG MISTAKE, nice reader. I wasn't feeling confident, I couldn't remember the dance or the new positions and my feet were hurting like hell. Like, I'd never, ever had so much pain on my toes. Maybe it was because of the stress. Maybe. The thing is, after that hour, I took off my pointe shoes and I had blisters. Some super painful ones. So I decided it was time to stop and have lunch.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the afternoon I had to go to the hairdresser, who put on my head the biggest bun I've ever seen (I still don't know where all that hair came from). And then I tried to rehearse on the catwalk thing again. Worst rehearsal of my life. I almost fell down a hundred times (the floor was slippery), I couldn't remember anything, my toes were hurting and I wasn't able to avoid grimacing with pain. Literally. Horrible. Only two hours to go. I decided to stop for good.</div>
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Then the show started. I put my pointe shoes on and I waited for my turn. The spectacle was divided in four sections: the beach, the opera, the wedding and China. I was going to dance in the opera section. So when that part started, I was very nervous. Even more nervous when I saw that they were putting some enormous flowerpots on my stage. For decoration. Like, as if I hadn't struggled enough with the little space I had before. Seriously, what else could go wrong?!</div>
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<br /></div>
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And then it was my turn. Of course, the flowerpots were still there, so I improvised. I started doing my variation and I had to decide how to do the next step while I was dancing in front of a thousand people. I didn't dance well. I forgot about the technique, I didn't listen to the music as I should have and I didn't do things that I knew I could do. The weird thing is... it felt really well. I was happy to have been given that opportunity, so I didn't stop smiling at any point. I forgot that my toes were hurting. And I had fun. Ballet is incredible. The feeling of being on a stage is something you can't really explain with words. But after that experience I can really say that it is worth the effort. In my hometown nobody knows anything about ballet. I know I didn't dance well at all, but they loved it. They loved it so much that now I am "The Girl Who Danced". For real, nice reader. They've been talking about it for two weeks. I feel privileged! Next time, on a bigger stage, they'll see!</div>
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When I started writing this post I decided I was not going to show you the video of the actual performance, because, if you know something about ballet, you will not like it. I am not proud of it. I'm just proud of my feelings during the dance and after it. Now I've decided you can watch it because you know my story. Here you are: you can compare it to the rehearsal, if you like.</div>
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<br />
And well, that's it.<br />
I have more plans for the future, but for now, I'll just try and find a flat in Paris... and then let the fun begin!<br />
<br />
Nerea.</div>
</div>
Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-13413954854148359052012-06-05T20:07:00.000+02:002012-06-05T20:07:29.575+02:00Scared<div class="MsoNormal">
—I am scared.</div>
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—Scared of what?</div>
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—Scared of doing it wrong.</div>
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So I guess that sums up the whole thing.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMVcLOO35egIj89iUyfsLA2Crlmg_H2foGaOM47-RFo5KL9fRAloHgypqbKrrxyKHjQvpT-7O5xYXNM51vxE8yguGmiWbEigNE5b-aKsEvBcsk4hgtD5gyAabascFMzDzthNwutMaYA/s1600/Marianela+en+Giselle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMVcLOO35egIj89iUyfsLA2Crlmg_H2foGaOM47-RFo5KL9fRAloHgypqbKrrxyKHjQvpT-7O5xYXNM51vxE8yguGmiWbEigNE5b-aKsEvBcsk4hgtD5gyAabascFMzDzthNwutMaYA/s320/Marianela+en+Giselle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Marianela Núñez in Giselle</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-81471963968870238952012-03-27T22:17:00.000+02:002012-03-27T22:17:47.358+02:00Ballet week!<div style="text-align: justify;">
So as previously stated, last week was also full of ballet, and I'm not talking about lessons. Actually I had fewer classes than usual, since the 19th of March is a public holiday in Spain.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEVEJ7ONd2uwxTzVqZZ4LgXd0n7lylEAIjavefwgP8S9dTwUlnQGpUscfqBIlJms-Vicr4CCFMBjBCgE8zSK2PpePDgh8-Y0uYlzGyfBk6oMCmF8baD1Rki1g1QOFrpKtbZ8PtCYpVA/s1600/424497_10150675243469510_653429509_9190167_1478577159_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEVEJ7ONd2uwxTzVqZZ4LgXd0n7lylEAIjavefwgP8S9dTwUlnQGpUscfqBIlJms-Vicr4CCFMBjBCgE8zSK2PpePDgh8-Y0uYlzGyfBk6oMCmF8baD1Rki1g1QOFrpKtbZ8PtCYpVA/s200/424497_10150675243469510_653429509_9190167_1478577159_n.jpg" width="132" /></a>Getting to the pointe, right before my slightly embarrassing interpretation of Christine I couldn't help but try to développé in that dress. Firstly, because it was nice and kinda Giselle-like in my head (yeah, you can call me crazy if you want); and secondly, because I had to wear my ballet slippers with the costume, since I had no other white shoes. Yay! Dancewear for the win!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also I was portraying a very realistic Christine, since she was a ballerina and a singer at the <i>Opéra de Paris</i>. See? I should have won the Best Actress Award or something. Instead, my friend (the Phantom; a super good singer) and I got eighth place out of sixteen. But I received a pretty white rose from my classmates which made me happy.</div>
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Where was I? Oh, yes. Ballet week!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Royal Ballet (♥) has been specially adorable (♥♥♥) during these past days. First of all, they made a worldwide cinema relay of <i>Romeo & Juliet</i>. I absolutely LOVE them for doing this. I always want to see them dance and I never can because I live so far away (this must change). The thing is, I could see them live and it was amazing. <i>Romeo & Juliet</i> is one of my favourite ballets ever. It is just glorious. I really believe that Kenneth MacMillan was a genius, and the Royal Ballet can perform his works in such a flawless, wonderful way. The dancers were perfect. I found a particularly convincing Bennet Gartside as Tybalt, performing one of the most furious sword fights I've ever seen against Federico Bonelli, who played Romeo. Oh, Federico. I saw him live at the ROH some months ago and he was a perfect Prince Florimund (he signed my tiny pointe shoe too!). Now, as Romeo, he was spectacular. Strong, dreamy. The way he stared at Juliet's eyes right before their first kiss was sensational. Speaking about Juliet, Lauren Cuthbertson touched the whole world the other day. I honestly believe that it was a huge privilege to see her dance. So innocent, so emotional, so tragic. So tecnically flawless. They say I am a crybaby, but I cannot help whining every single time I see this ballet. I just can't! And I know it, so I always make sure there is a bag of tissues around.</div>
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Let's move on... though I could talk about the Royal Ballet for hours.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh wait, the next thing I want to talk about is actually... the Royal Ballet! Because, nice reader, the Royal Ballet rocks and last week they did something else to prove their awesomeness to the world. The <i>Royal Ballet Live</i> took place on Friday and it was basically a documentary on a day at the Royal Ballet, from the daily class to all the rehearsals... all of it broadcast live to the whole world via YouTube. Isn't it the most amazing idea ever? Well, for me it is. I had always dreamed of watching an entire class with professional dancers, and on Friday I could finally do it. It was so inspiring! Also, all the rehearsals were an absolute joy to watch. Well, the whole thing. It was just plain awesome. Did you read that, ballet companies?</div>
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The only thing was, I had to work at Munusal the whole day, so I had to divide my screen like this:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50UiZBtMGDtD5L7PbsUSmPGqMLjnz1t1aH1T_oYdGT5hX9cn6ICFVRLI8lf6jswGOoiqqtEwT80UyJeTXYXF6Om0SXTBzcdB-uADZ4sjCgE3Ue8STjrR_C01shA2DqXNa1xaNbz3J5Q/s1600/RBL+Trans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50UiZBtMGDtD5L7PbsUSmPGqMLjnz1t1aH1T_oYdGT5hX9cn6ICFVRLI8lf6jswGOoiqqtEwT80UyJeTXYXF6Om0SXTBzcdB-uADZ4sjCgE3Ue8STjrR_C01shA2DqXNa1xaNbz3J5Q/s400/RBL+Trans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have I already said that Marianela is lovely?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also put one of my earphones on and I used my other ear to listen to my fellow translators. You can imagine the scene: translating from English into Spanish while my editors were speaking in German, my colleagues in Spanish most of the time; two girls in Romanian... and also listening to the <i>Royal Ballet Live</i>. Thankfully my simultaneous interpreting lessons taught me how to multitask!</div>
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Keep dancing!</div>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-67038886828519540602012-03-27T19:10:00.000+02:002012-03-27T19:25:57.053+02:00Munusal 2012 and a festive atmosphere<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week was very exciting for me, both as a translator and as a balletomane.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But since they are very different issues, I'm going to divide the story into two blog posts, being this one the entry on translation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You may have noticed that I haven't written anything here for long. Well, let me explain why:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Firstly, because just like every year in March, my faculty celebrated an entire week of festive events, like a Trivial competition, an Eurovision-like contest called 'TraDocVisión' and a costume contest among others.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I participated in many of them. I even played Christine Daaé from 'The Phantom of the Opera' in TraDocVisión. And this is the proof:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ-yAUxiVXOYFzNO8Z6aRdUGPfqNsWPVgdA8ecva0y7DFxqLb5igJeW6URtoVIa5v11AWL3Lm7MDZrRfPvW0dBth77jzoI8EpQADWj5A3B0CzUbrzSRpgK2vTRNtEZTQuYw9NRuw_lg/s1600/tpoto2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ-yAUxiVXOYFzNO8Z6aRdUGPfqNsWPVgdA8ecva0y7DFxqLb5igJeW6URtoVIa5v11AWL3Lm7MDZrRfPvW0dBth77jzoI8EpQADWj5A3B0CzUbrzSRpgK2vTRNtEZTQuYw9NRuw_lg/s320/tpoto2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's me, and I'm singing. I never thought this could ever, EVER happen.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Secondly, because as a translation student, I can ask for an internship period with an institution, such as the UN, the Spanish Police, the University of Salamanca and many others. I decided I wanted to work for the Model of the United Nations of the University of Salamanca, also known as MUNUSAL. So after two weeks receiving and translating texts, my colleague and I were asked if we would like to work as press translators during the actual conference. We said yes, even though we didn't really know how it worked.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
For those of you who've never heard of MUNs, they are basically simulations of the United Nations system, with all the organs and their respective committee sessions. They are held in many cities around the world and this one is called MUNUSAL because it takes place at the University of Salamanca once a year.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
So that's what I did last week. I was one of the five translators at <a href="http://globe.munusal.org/" target="_blank">The Globe</a>, the Munusal News Network.</div>
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Basically our work consisted of translating all the articles written by the journalists at MUNUSAL, from English into Spanish. At the beginning the texts were all abstracts of the sessions, but at some point, the committees simulated a global crisis, so the whole situation became very exciting! We received lots of articles and press statements from many countries, we all got very stressed and we really had to work as a team in order to hand everything in on time! It was such an amazing experience!</div>
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I really loved translating in a "real" context with my four colleagues, meeting our editors in chief and all the nice people at MUNUSAL. I enjoyed all my time at the "office" -some days I was there from 9 am. until 6.30 pm.-, the coffee breaks, the hours we spent at the canteen, having lunch together along with the delegates and chairpersons.</div>
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So basically it was fun, fun, FUN! I can't wait to do something similar again!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszWuFDN0pslayqbkuiE72wveWHI2mQGxd7FlXKS8F52pT6ni5n0_Ei6SgsxFOXlok3nyv_rHXpvgnlcnpTrVJHU3GL_DNOUiDDIgydKctlb1-v1_BPPQzNBczgnMvpAi96N_I7fj7_A/s1600/IMG_3380(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszWuFDN0pslayqbkuiE72wveWHI2mQGxd7FlXKS8F52pT6ni5n0_Ei6SgsxFOXlok3nyv_rHXpvgnlcnpTrVJHU3GL_DNOUiDDIgydKctlb1-v1_BPPQzNBczgnMvpAi96N_I7fj7_A/s320/IMG_3380(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! I even got a Translator Pass with my name on it!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
That's all regarding the translation matter. The balletic part is yet to come... :)</div>
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Keep translating!</div>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-89742437483473868092012-02-28T21:34:00.000+01:002012-02-29T22:59:29.576+01:00Anoche en el Bretón...<div style="text-align: justify;">
So it's been more than a week since we performed our Quintuple Bill.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The whole spectacle was called <i>Anoche en el Bretón...</i>, something like <i>Last night at the Bretón</i>..., which was a theatre located here, in Salamanca. The performance was inspired by the only visit the Ballets Russes made to this city, back in 1918 in that theatre. At the time, the company came and danced <i>Le Carnaval</i>, <i>Les Sylphides</i>, <i>Le Spectre de la Rose</i> and <i>The Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor</i>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
So our ballet school -whose students have founded the <i>Ars Movendi</i> dance association- created a new vision of that night. We performed all those dances in a different way; kind of neo-classical and some of them were even contemporary. We also added a fifth piece, the <i>Ritual Fire Dance</i>, by Manuel de Falla, danced by the whole company as a way to put an end to the spectacle.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
And let me say it was a huge success. We danced in front of a full house! There were even people sitting on the stairs! We were told it had been very beautiful and as I went out of the theatre, I heard many comments which made me believe that the public had actually had fun and enjoyed the show a lot. The day after, there were articles in all the local newspapers, some of which had really good critics. They even interviewed our choreographer on the radio!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Needless to say, we, the company members, had so much fun. The final purpose of all the things we learn in class everyday is to be able to show them; to be able to perform in front of a crowd at some point. When we were told we had this opportunity, we all got very excited. You can imagine our dressing rooms, full of happy people taking pictures and recording videos, laughing and dancing around... But the real magic happened at the moment we got onstage and started to dance. It is a feeling that only those who have already danced on a stage can understand. It's something like <i>happiness, excitement, nervousness, sparks, rainbows and unicorns</i>, all mixed together and exploding. Duh! Do you get what I mean?</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
As for me, I can honestly say that it was one of the greatest days of my life. I spent my whole evening recording backstage videos and hanging around with my ballet classmates as we got our hair and make up done and we put our dresses on. Oh, and I felt free onstage. I stopped thinking of all the steps I had done a hundred times during rehearsals and I focused on having fun, smiling and making the most of it. And it worked; it was amazing. I am very happy I could perform in Salamanca again, along with my wonderful classmates and under the watchful eyes of my three ballet teachers, who were supervising the whole thing. I am going to miss them all SO MUCH after June.</div>
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So... that's all. I leave you with a picture and the video from <i>Les Sylphides</i>, which is the part I danced, as well as the video of the <i>Ritual Fire Dance</i>, with the whole company. Oh, and in case you're interested, you can see all the other pieces by searching for <i>Ars Movendi</i> on YouTube.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwh2nLz1QktW465MKT8y5TQb98vXd_1huBW6FEcZZY_JAJUUs8O83ubBjzbl5QiBwAqvW6pkKhGzszq2T7n70m0vp44k52X_H_kahgckAMJIIWNoHCFLLZhpFjaF64Tie_u5w8YG2NQ/s1600/IMG_6387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwh2nLz1QktW465MKT8y5TQb98vXd_1huBW6FEcZZY_JAJUUs8O83ubBjzbl5QiBwAqvW6pkKhGzszq2T7n70m0vp44k52X_H_kahgckAMJIIWNoHCFLLZhpFjaF64Tie_u5w8YG2NQ/s320/IMG_6387.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Les Sylphides</i>. I am the one on the right.<br />
Don't look at my right foot; I was having trouble with my balance there!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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Until next time...</div>
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Keep dancing!</div>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-7551021792052439672012-02-09T01:50:00.001+01:002012-02-09T01:50:54.326+01:00Michael Jackson Syndrome<div style="text-align: justify;">
You know this thing that happens when people are bored? Like, they do random/weird/stupid stuff?</div>
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Well, I was really bored tonight after ballet class.</div>
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And I also miss <a href="http://adultbeginner.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/ballerina-class-is-different/" target="_blank">Ballerina Class®</a>, because we are rehearsing for <i>Les Sylphides</i> instead of doing pointe work.</div>
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So I decided to put my pointe shoes on and then... this thing happened.</div>
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Sigh.</div>
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Nerea.</div>
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</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-14270357181458936932012-01-31T21:58:00.000+01:002012-01-31T21:58:34.029+01:00Sweet face!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Ok, so now you know the choreography; let's start focusing on your expression. You know, </i>Les Sylphides<i> is a very romantic ballet, like, very feminine and sweet. I need to see that sweetness on your faces. No, don't smile! That's too much. Just show tenderness with your eyes... everything is very romantic...</i></div>
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Oh, yeah, sure! I'm going to try and show tenderness and sweetness when I'm counting and when I know I have to <a href="http://adultbeginner.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/chaines-nonsense-flamingo-croquet/" target="_blank">chainé-né®</a> to the LEFT after those two soutenus!!! Yeah! I'm going to try and make a pretty face which I don't really know how to make! As if I wasn't scared enough!</div>
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DARN! </div>
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Well, I guess that's ballet!</div>
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And we love it!</div>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-80576314017318218022012-01-23T22:40:00.000+01:002012-02-28T19:39:17.046+01:00It wasn't embarrassing, but it does hurt!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Last minute of class. We were doing some <i>temps levés en arabesque</i> with a <i>chassé</i> and the floor was a little slippery, so I lost my balance and fell down with all the impulse on my knee. Yes, the very same knee that was already bruised. So I got up quickly, Mrs. M asked if I was alright, I said yes (my pride, you know) and continued dancing.</div>
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When class finished I looked in the mirror and I saw my torn tights and my blood and... let's just say that it wasn't very funny.</div>
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Yep, I fell down in class, I got a cut that hurts a lot and I ripped my tights.</div>
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So what? Professionals fall all the time. Even the amazing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luWup6OV63g" target="_blank">Sylvie Guillem</a>! I've got over it! I'm already getting ready for a two-hour-long rehearsal tomorrow afternoon! Say what?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jJ65rWlGe6uS2XhiZgiTNcJgxEsM5hotbdHrEfUnOdqMQV7amwLgmi4sTNz5gfveVe_meI39UQoNMEQK38m8HFSpJJtJLL5AGaUY3jRGMDwjulDOuV-jm0ouY_4NL_-XqX8vJ1LKPQ/s1600/sys2-2005-4-300-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jJ65rWlGe6uS2XhiZgiTNcJgxEsM5hotbdHrEfUnOdqMQV7amwLgmi4sTNz5gfveVe_meI39UQoNMEQK38m8HFSpJJtJLL5AGaUY3jRGMDwjulDOuV-jm0ouY_4NL_-XqX8vJ1LKPQ/s320/sys2-2005-4-300-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>National Ballet of Canada - Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann</i></td></tr>
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Let's dance!</div>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-17814504445901619902012-01-23T01:10:00.000+01:002012-02-07T21:00:38.825+01:00Sylphides update<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week was a pretty busy week.</div>
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I had four days of dancing, including two classical ballet lessons and two long rehearsals for <i>Les Sylphides</i>. Oh, and also a dress fitting. I can now tell you, nice reader, that the only thing about the performance which has to do with <i>Les Syphides</i> is the music.</div>
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The costumes are pretty, but they are blue and completely different from the ones worn by the sylphids in the ballet. And the choreography is also very, very different. It's neo-classical, kinda contemporary and we don't wear pointe shoes. But I like the whole thing, anyway!</div>
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On Saturday we finished learning the choreography. You know I've just been "promoted" from beginners level to intermediate, so I guess you also understand that I feel a little behind the rest of the class. It's more difficult for me to get to remember and perform all the steps and I'm feeling really challenged. But I'm determined to rehearse a lot and I'll do my best!</div>
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The performance will be in February 17th, and until then I'll have classes and rehearsals from Monday to Saturday; at least eight hours a week (well that's crazy, innit!). Oh, and my choreographer told me that whenever I have free time I can go to the studio to practice. Free time? <b>Me?</b> You know that now I'm in Salamanca just because of ballet, right? I have no uni classes! I'd be in the studio during the whole day if possible! So maybe I'll get to add some more private lessons with her so I can work on my <i>déboulés</i> and <i>soutenus</i>, which are giving me a lot of trouble... and unfortunately there are lots of them in the choreography!</div>
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That's all for now!</div>
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I leave you with a quote by my choreographer: </div>
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<i>"Give a hundred per cent of your dancing during rehearsals so when I ask you for 120% during the performance you won't run out of stamina! Make the most of every rehearsal!"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2csCWzp0AMdGaFXaTqUzssWYRJEmj4xRyCCxZeJZN5ontvoIkKBuZR3fKIYCfnCCBWNzrIRmgPaT2E1DpA_dl1ZJCYb8O0w9B9tQlrrTZeCzk71aw8ywpP5UtTPtvCFbedSxfUaW9g/s1600/89693_ballet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2csCWzp0AMdGaFXaTqUzssWYRJEmj4xRyCCxZeJZN5ontvoIkKBuZR3fKIYCfnCCBWNzrIRmgPaT2E1DpA_dl1ZJCYb8O0w9B9tQlrrTZeCzk71aw8ywpP5UtTPtvCFbedSxfUaW9g/s320/89693_ballet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nerea.</div>
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P.S.: I had to buy a knee bandage because my right knee was giving me a little trouble due to my falling on it over and over again during the beginning of the choreography.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-36212615425470508922012-01-12T23:35:00.000+01:002012-02-01T13:30:02.044+01:00¡Talón!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Is there any word that your ballet teacher says a lot?</div>
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Mine, apart from "¡no!", likes to shout "¡TALÓN!" all the time. It literally means "heel!", but not literally, it means "push your heel forward so I can see your turnout, damn it!!!".</div>
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So basically, if we're doing a series of relevés, we hear something like this: "¡uno, talón, hop, talón, tres, talón, cuatro, talón, hop, talón, hop, talón, etc.!"</div>
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And the same happens when it comes to tendus and jetés: "¡y, fuera, talón, fuera, talón, fuera, fuera, fuera, talón!"</div>
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Kinda funny, guys!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNOx61U26mDEc79MiAX0WMe7vE5fy-87hDuXaWOA95tfkB43_DznVytaG191ckqhsmtlOCo-zG0WsbmovFzzmULqQKptmur4-U5tatlLijXrhKwtv2ibywnQNcMe8OZ3vdTcraAY8_g/s1600/tumblr_lrxdb4AnzI1qe7ryio1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNOx61U26mDEc79MiAX0WMe7vE5fy-87hDuXaWOA95tfkB43_DznVytaG191ckqhsmtlOCo-zG0WsbmovFzzmULqQKptmur4-U5tatlLijXrhKwtv2ibywnQNcMe8OZ3vdTcraAY8_g/s320/tumblr_lrxdb4AnzI1qe7ryio1_500.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not even possible!<br />
<i>Venus Villa's turnout</i></td></tr>
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Remember your turnout! </div>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-37276366344803420082012-01-10T23:10:00.001+01:002012-02-01T13:29:14.409+01:00New Year's Resolutions<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hi everybody!</div>
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How's this new year going? For me, quite well, even though I spent the first week really stressed due to bureaucracy. I hatehatehatehate it! But some hours ago I sent the last envelope to the correct address and now I'm happy to say I am free!! I am back in Salamanca and I'm allowed to do nothing but dance, read and write, because I already did my exams in December. Big YAY until February 13th!</div>
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So I have never, ever, written a list of new year's resolutions. We don't do that in Spain, nice reader. But some things just came across my mind and then I thought: "hey! I could do those during 2012! They are perfectly achievable in a year!". So this is my super short list:</div>
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<li><b>Learn Catalan.</b> I know: nobody can learn a language in a year (unless you're the most intelligent person on Earth). But the thing is, I already know Catalan. I know I do! I can perfectly understand it, both reading and listening. But I never dare saying it's one of my working languages, because I always struggle when it comes to "producing" the language. Catalan is kind of similar to French and I can't help but mix them in my head. If I start speaking Catalan, I always end up saying things in French and so on. So yeah, by the end of this year I'll be speaking and writing Catalan fluently, you'll see!</li>
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<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Become a translator and a teacher. </span>Just six months to go and it'll be done. I just need to pass three more subjects and write a long Bachelor's Degree Thesis (on dance, nice reader! I got to mix translation and dance for the last essay of my degree!) and I'll become an official translator. Obviously, I still have lots of things to learn, but for now I'll be happy with my Degree thingy. The teacher will come later, because I'm probably going to work in France as a Spanish Language Assistant in October. Pretty nice, huh?</li>
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<li><b>Pirouette.</b> I just need to be able to do some clean singles before I even think of doubles. I am getting better, yes. I can pirouette, but I just want to be comfortable and get to measure the amount of impulse that I need, both en pointe and in soft slippers. The round fouettés will come when I am fully aware where my weight is and where it should be.</li>
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<li><b>Always dance like nobody is watching.</b> This may be cliché, but I have realised that I dance way better when I forget about everything and everybody. I must get to find this feeling every single time I practice.</li>
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<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Work hard... </span>in every aspect of my life.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW776CjFE5fZRO87xFfy6va6HaGOZgYMkghlJIlYtTBgKdROgbW_Sg0YDDp4l57AQaSSwcDsp0bxv_fbb190jlWI4-fK93DUToiu2pFmroA3S8bjjmoGHuaeAKmeOqSW19UheV_NPgA/s1600/lucialacarraarabesque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW776CjFE5fZRO87xFfy6va6HaGOZgYMkghlJIlYtTBgKdROgbW_Sg0YDDp4l57AQaSSwcDsp0bxv_fbb190jlWI4-fK93DUToiu2pFmroA3S8bjjmoGHuaeAKmeOqSW19UheV_NPgA/s320/lucialacarraarabesque.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also, can I haz Lucía Lacarra's arabesque? Plz!? *_*<br />
<i>Photo: Stanislav Belyaevsky</i></td></tr>
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And that's pretty much all.<br />
Be happy, y'all!Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-16294796879627175702011-12-31T20:26:00.000+01:002012-02-07T17:49:44.430+01:00Happy New Year!<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you can see, I haven't posted that much during December, mostly because I am on holidays, which means that there's no translation or ballet classes until January and therefore, not much to say.</div>
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I guess I could have written a "Merry Christmas" blogpost thingy, but I'm not a very Christmas-y person. I prefer to wish happy holidays to the people; I hope you've had fun with your beloved ones... and now it's time to say goodbye to 2011!</div>
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This has been a very nice year. I learnt lots of things at the university; I had my first interpreting exams and simultaneous interpreting lessons, which were lots of fun; I started this blog, I went to Belgium and Holland, I danced in front of a crowd after eight years, I was (re)promoted to pointe, I went to London and to the Royal Opera House and I met my favourite ballerina ever, Tamara Rojo. What else can I ask for? Well, an even better 2012!</div>
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Some of you might not know a pretty nice tradition we have in Spain for the last 12 seconds of the year. We eat a grape each time the clock at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid strucks (it's also live on TV). It is a very funny moment! Grapes are not very easy to eat in a second, as you may know, so most of us finish the 12 seconds with our mouths full of grapes and normally laughing, coughing and crying. Fun times!</div>
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So I wish you all a very happy 2012!!!</div>
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May your translations stay accurate, your interpretations lack of filled pauses and your pirouette fairy is always around!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26zB6jp8hnUux9fQv5TrBVIDVdAk0mHKNzJCODWnm1PtfkxwBwxil-yi5jwnPuS67m9UinWWxtYWlRN7kt2Ulq3sjyPpW2wW5bc7-aqSmUcp16r7Fv8qLdCAljccrOzzkzT_mdZcvKg/s1600/Snowflakes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26zB6jp8hnUux9fQv5TrBVIDVdAk0mHKNzJCODWnm1PtfkxwBwxil-yi5jwnPuS67m9UinWWxtYWlRN7kt2Ulq3sjyPpW2wW5bc7-aqSmUcp16r7Fv8qLdCAljccrOzzkzT_mdZcvKg/s320/Snowflakes.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Snowflakes wish you a Happy New Year too! =D<br />
<i>Artists of New York City Ballet</i> </td></tr>
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Nerea.</div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-69827328922888701122011-12-11T14:38:00.001+01:002011-12-11T14:46:55.060+01:00Ballet is hard and stuffSo this girl went to her first rehearsal for <i>Les Sylphides</i> on Friday and the day after she found this super nice thing:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW8WxnrxlKgMZE-whar2jMFAaS8ceyezrCiDJWAGF8PgDtT9KE4bCD6_UrhQTkq2v18SF0C1fbLD3UGmxv-jViYifJhXmY3Tx7enMWKfR3eUgDHq0gjybsytsEiVPRuuln3MhqzHp7Q/s1600/469061540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW8WxnrxlKgMZE-whar2jMFAaS8ceyezrCiDJWAGF8PgDtT9KE4bCD6_UrhQTkq2v18SF0C1fbLD3UGmxv-jViYifJhXmY3Tx7enMWKfR3eUgDHq0gjybsytsEiVPRuuln3MhqzHp7Q/s320/469061540.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my knees, yeah. Nice bruises, huh? And they hurt, in case you're wondering.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Lovely, innit?!<br />
Nice to know that pink tights cover everything up, because if I get three bruises after each rehearsal, I won't have acceptable legs to dance with in January. <br />
<br />
Keep dancing, anyway!<br />
Nerea.<br />Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-92016821204445769342011-12-09T22:39:00.001+01:002012-02-28T19:29:52.508+01:00I am such a Sylphide!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I know I haven’t written anything here for
long, but I actually did it on purpose because I wanted to be able to tell you
the full story!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">You know what? Two weeks ago, we had a ballet class
with another teacher. We didn’t really understand why we had this change,
because our regular teacher was also at the studio. So not that she was ill or
anything! And class was hard. So, so hard. Our new teacher kept taking notes
while looking at us doing some terrible attempts to dance gracefully. You know,
it was one of those days when you leave class thinking you’re the worst dancer
in the whole world. Fun times, yay!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ok, no.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So during our next class (pointe) my regular
ballet teacher (Mrs. M) told us she needed to have a talk with us. She was very
serious, so we thought that whatever she was going to say was going to be very
bad. Something like: “the other day you sucked so much that we don’t want you
here. Leave this place and never come back!” Nervousness everywhere!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But instead she said: “This studio is
participating in an important performance in January; we’re representing an
association of dance. Mrs. A was here the other day to take notes about you,
and we believe that some of you are ready to dance with us. But there are some
important things that you need to take into consideration. First of all, it is
not compulsory. Second of all, since the moment you say yes, you have to accept
anything we say. This means that you may be dancing something you don’t like
with people you don’t know or with a teacher you can’t stand. You might not be
dancing with your regular classmates! Oh, and you have to be able to come on
Saturdays and Sundays if we call you. Understood?”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So I was among the ones who were picked, and of course I said yes. I want to dance in
January and I am really happy to be a part of this! These past two weeks must
have been for the teachers to prepare everything; to create the choreographies
and all the stuff. Actually I’m having a week off from university and I’m in Salamanca instead of home
with my family because I wanted to be here in case we had our first rehearsals.
And guess what?! I had them today! Almost two hours of class which were
AMAZING! “What are you dancing?” –you may ask. I’m dancing “Les Sylphides” with
a neo-classical choreography, with soft slippers (most of the time), with Mrs.
A and with some girls from the advanced and intermediary levels. It’s hard to
work with a choreographer, because it’s not like a regular class. Mrs. A marked
loads of steps and I just couldn’t remember anything at the beginning, but I
got used! Oh, and we’re doing something extremely cool that was so MUCH FUN. We
are partnering!!! Yes, like when there are boys on the stage and they do these
really cool <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pas de deux</i> with the
ballerinas. Only we’re all girls. But it’s super awesome anyway! Oh, and HARD.
It looks easy, but it is not! Anyways… really, dudes, come on! Come to class,
please. I want to do a partnering class like… everyday. Thank you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So that’s all! I’m such a sylphide, nice
reader!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’ll keep you up to date!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYoqwn0NTB1JqadsJBeXAC86hK-rNBUY1IJg5hNo2W6Yi0YSjP5XSR9qBTen5HPegmFwFwKDylvPA6r4oJzBc2vbcllKE41uAAVpY97nyTS4DXIOUrV6H8v3sorEWtwyWHgd_bzKrGA/s1600/Tamara+y+Rupert+en+La+Sylphide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYoqwn0NTB1JqadsJBeXAC86hK-rNBUY1IJg5hNo2W6Yi0YSjP5XSR9qBTen5HPegmFwFwKDylvPA6r4oJzBc2vbcllKE41uAAVpY97nyTS4DXIOUrV6H8v3sorEWtwyWHgd_bzKrGA/s400/Tamara+y+Rupert+en+La+Sylphide.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look nice, huh...? Ok, ok, that's Tamara, not me! And he is Rupert Pennefather!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nerea.</span></div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443598431327856127.post-49602574450992747332011-11-21T15:48:00.001+01:002011-11-21T21:12:39.070+01:00Ballet for translators<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">These days I have read many blog entries that talked
about how helpful can some exercises be for translators (and for some interpreters
too, of course).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">As you know, we work sitting in front of computers
or microphones. It looks like a pretty comfortable job, huh?! Yes, but think of
sitting on a chair in the same position everyday for the rest of your life! Your
back will give you trouble at some point! Believe me: after only two years of translation
studies, I started not to feel so comfortable when I was sitting in front of my
computer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But later, during my third year, I (re)started
my ballet studies and within two months or so, I started to feel better. Why?
Because ballet makes you be more aware of your position. So I was sitting up
straight without really realising and I was feeling fine; my back didn’t hurt
anymore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Of course, there are other exercises that you
can do, like pilates or yoga! I’m just adding ballet to the list. Oh, and you
will get some satisfaction knowing that not everybody can do what you do! And don’t
forget it is simply fun!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z9qwtRp2AdYdBXDAVsfzxNiqFpjPU1VLHOt0Z6bmiCFvlGFbD2sfVhFIDehpy_R9OGfiCZqWnSoD7WxP56sOP81bhwQr5f4y3rjKrZP5nI5HiI9hm7bg6ay0pY9K5Qyr5aIKavvvLw/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z9qwtRp2AdYdBXDAVsfzxNiqFpjPU1VLHOt0Z6bmiCFvlGFbD2sfVhFIDehpy_R9OGfiCZqWnSoD7WxP56sOP81bhwQr5f4y3rjKrZP5nI5HiI9hm7bg6ay0pY9K5Qyr5aIKavvvLw/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Keep translating and dancing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nerea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">PS.: Male translators: please, do come to
ballet class. We need you! ;)</span></div>Nereahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16183658217436254554noreply@blogger.com5