BOSTON BALLET
SPAIN TOUR 2007
Diary of the Tour
by Sarah Wroth, Boston Ballet corps de ballet member
July 19, 2007
Yesterday was beach exploration day. We all took a cab to the public beach and made quite a glob of Americans sitting in our little nest of white hotel towels. The Spanish seem to be a very peaceful fun-loving people. There were countless games of futbol and sport going as we strolled along the shore. There was also a complete comfort with one’s own body that, especially to a dancer, was completely refreshing. The men wore Speedos (with a couple exceptions) and the women had no fear when it came to avoiding those oh-so-unpleasant bathing suit top tan lines. I think in America we have such a greater inhibition when it comes to just being people. I’ll save broad generalizations for later on when I have a longer than three day understanding of the Spanish culture.
I have figured out the best way to learn the language is to find a patient cab driver who is willing to teach me Spanish through slow paced front seat conversation. I was able to tale to two such drivers yesterday. The first told me that he moved here from Venezuela for “la paz y la tranquilidad” (the peace and tranquility) of the island. He also told me that the glowing haze cast by the sunlight this time of year is not due to any pollution but the July winds that blow the dust from Africa. I tried to tell him how “cool” that was, but I don’t think it translated because he started adjusting the air vent.
The second cab driver talked again about the peace in this part of the country. He said he never is worried about terrorism that has infected the rest of the world. A pretty sweet existence, but again, sweet wouldn’t translate.
I am on the bus now for my first rehearsal in Spain. The bumps and hills are a strain on my penmanship so I will end this for now before my English begins to look more like a foreign language.
Last night we had our first ballet experience in Spain to whip us all back to the reality that this brilliant place is not a vacation. The theater is beautiful. It was built four years ago and from what the cab driver told me slowly in the simple Spanish I can understand, it resembles the theatres in New York. Not really sure about that one.
Today we are on to dress rehearsals for the opening night in Spain. I am so excited. I hope the audience rushes to their feet like the Spanish waves rising above the rocks.
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Diary of the Tour
A dancer's view through the online diary of Sarah Wroth, Boston Ballet corps de ballet member.
Notes from Spain
Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen sends you his updates straight from Spain.
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Behind the Scenes on tour...catch the dancers and production crew as they prepare for each festival.
Boston Ballet va de gira por Espana
Boston Ballet estará de gira durante seis semanas en España apartir de Julio del 2007.