Virada Cultural
Posted by Cathy Godeghesi
Well here I am again, after a long time!
Now life is really on its tracks again, after that UN model that I have mentioned in my previous post. So I’ll start by telling how it went.
As I said, after ballet this is something that I really like. Participating in the simulation was a huge experience for me (especially when representing the US, it was a hard job!)
I was in the General Assembly and our theme was The Religious Issue. We discussed for five days and then wrote a huge document recommending solutions to the nations concerning the matter.
It’s really hard to defend point of views that are not yours, especially when these are so polemic!
But I had fun and it was unforgettable!
I was pretty busy before that because I had to research about the United States position, and then EVERYTHING about the United States, and then about religious issues in the world, and so on.
My school colleagues also loved the experience, and we learned so much.
Well during this period in which I was studying, etc, I could barely go to ballet, and now I am finally back!
We have three performances coming up and it’s time to rehearse. We are dancing the Waltz of The Flowers (again) and also each girl will take a variation. I’m rehearsing Kitri, although we also learned Blue Bird and Flower Festival in Genzano.
Also, there will be an open class to parents and anyone else who would like to watch us, so we’ve been practicing the syllabus by Royal Academy of Dance (our examination is only in September, though).
My city held something really nice last week, a huge event called Virada Cultural. It was a 24 -hour event that went through the night, and there was absolutely everything: music, cinema, theater, exhibitions, dance, etc. And everything was free and spread around the city.
I attended some of the dance ones, in a stage in the Vale do Anhangabau (you know this already! I’ve shown it in another post).
I watched three pieces, the first one was Les Sylphides, danced by the girls from Escola Municipal de Bailados, which is the “municipal school of ballet” that belongs to the theatre and feeds to Balé da Cidade de São Paulo (”São Paulo City Ballet'’, but they’re pretty much contemporary nowadays and don’t dance classical anymore; however the school teaches just classical).
They made a short adapted version and it was very nice and clean. I had never seen their work before and the girls are beautiful, they have amazing lines and they’re soft, and were so ethereal.
This school is free so the students come from poorer communities in the city, and I find that amazing. To give these girls the possibility to have such great education in ballet and to open so many doors afterwards.
The second piece I saw was by the choreographer Ivaldo Bertazzo. Guys, if you ever have the opportunity to see his works, DON’T MISS IT. Seriously, this man is awesome. It’s contemporary and he gets inspiration in Africa and India, and mixes with brazilian sounds and contemporary technique.
Also, he is another one who gives shots to people that don’t have money to take dance classes and are envolved with drugs and things like that. His dancers come from an NGO, and he trains them and does the choreographies. They are really strong and great dancers!
I think there could be so much more things like this here in Brazil. Arts don’t get much attention in general, but they could really be used to help a big part of the population.
As we’re on this subject, I don’t know how many of you know about this but Bolshoi Ballet from Moscow has a school here in Brazil (in Joinville, southern brazil).
They pick children from poor communities from all over the country and give them this unique chance to study at the Bolshoi.
It’s the only school from Bolshoi that’s outside of Russia. If you want to know more about the work, visit their website, it’s completely worth the visit and you can see many pics showing very talented kids.
I admire them so much for doing this! Take your time and read about it, it’s beautiful.
Dear wingers, now I leave and I promise to be back soon showing my performances!
Bye!
