Dancers from around the World
Updated: Sep 25, 2020
Hello, I am Mariana Parma, so out of my many discoveries during this time, I have concluded that dancers around the world have been transforming their living quarters into multi- purpose functional spaces and redefining their dance world one move at time. Since most of the theaters and dance studios have been closed due to the #pandemic, dancers and performing artists have converted their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen's, or any open space to continue training, creating, and teaching.
This experience has given us a chance to get personal, by entering each others living spaces, and supporting one another. So what better way than to share with you the experiences from several of the most talented and versatile dancers, I have the honor of knowing to #inspire you by sharing their stories, tips, and clips of how they make use of their living spaces, to continue to teach, train, and create.
Buckle Up As we Travel the World Together meeting these divine Artists!
First Stop:
URUGUAY:
Approximately 5,343.34 Miles (8,599.27 KM) from #NYC. Officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (Spanish: República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in the southeastern region of South America. With an estimated population of 3.51 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital and largest city, Montevideo. It borders Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and east, with the Río de la Plata (River of Silver) to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. Known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast full of culture and art. And dear to my heart, for this is where my family is from.
Introducing Professional Dancer extraordinaire Rosina Gil:
Rosina Gil, is a dancer extraordinaire who trained in classical ballet in Montevideo, Uruguay and graduated in 2000 from the National School of Dances of Uruguay. Her experience traveling around the world with prestigious dance companies is vast, which landed her the opportunity of being a featured dancer and the artistic dance coach of Volta by Cirque du Soleil in USA. She has also performed in the Dance company Deborah Colker (Rio de Janeiro), Sodre National Ballet (Montevideo), Carmen Roche Ballet (Madrid), David Campos Ballet (Barcelona), and Uninorte Ballet (Asunción).
1. How has the pandemic affected your profession?
It affected me directly because I lost my job at Cirque du Soleil, which was not just a job for me, but a very different lifestyle, always surrounded by artists, traveling a lot and dancing 10 shows a week. Luckily, the whole pandemic caught me in my country #Uruguay and I can enjoy being with my family.
2. What (tips) can you share about how you stay motivated during this time in your dance and your life?
Do online classes (Pilates, ballet, Yoga)
Plan your day generating routines, that orders your mind and generates less anxiety.
Dedicate time to a hobby that you wanted to do for a long time and never had time.
Rosina Gil in action training in her living room in Uruguay.
3. Can you share a song that motivates you?
"Sing sing nun people" by Martinho da Vila
4. Some favorite meditation or mantra, or saying that inspires you?
"When the fisherman cannot go out to sea, he spends his time repairing the nets"
Introducing Professional Dancer Salsera Valentina Viré:
Valentina Viré, Uruguayan Professional Dancer, Instructor and Choreographer. Received her bachelor's degree in Movement Arts from the InDans school in Montevideo. She did her training in dances Latinos and Afro-Cuban in “Montevideo Mambo”, with Maestros Nicolas Marin and Vanessa Grossi. She trained with the great mambo legends in NYC, such as: Eddie Torres Sr, Eddie Torres Jr, Franklin Diaz, Delia Madera, Ernesto and Denisse, Griselle Ponce. And had the honor of being the first Uruguayan woman to perform a solo routine of Rumba Cubana. She has been a principal dancer in numerous dance productions. And has danced and trained with great dance groups, as well as has developed her own solo salsa routines and Afro- Cuban routines for incredible Nacional and International events.
1. How has the pandemic affected your profession?
The pandemic from one day to the next left me without work, I found myself leaving NYC returning to Uruguay to my parents' house, giving very few classes online, the preparations, the costumes, the shows and the stages could no longer be.
2. What (tips) can you share about how you stay motivated during this time in your dance and your life?
At first, it took me a lot to get get motivated, but then I understood that this moment it served a purpose for me, to empower myself, in every sense, professionally and in life itself. Two things that helped me a lot to find myself, my way:
Taking dance lessons online
Yoga classes online
Valentina in action @ home practicing her Salsa moves outside in her yard.
3. Can you share a song that motivates you?
Any salsa I swear moves my soul with happiness, but especially, “Otra Oportunidad” by Jimmy Bosh, after having the pleasure of listening to it live at “TAJ” in NYC, I still remember the whole band playing and singing with so much passion and emotion!
"Otra Oportunidad" by Jimmy Bosch
4. Some favorite meditation or mantra, or saying that inspires you.
"Do what makes your soul shine."
Second Stop:
Argentina:
Approximately, 5,503 Miles (8,856 KM) in air distance, from #NYC. Officially the #ArgentineRepublic (Spanish:República Argentina), according to #wikipedia is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south of South America, covering most of the southern portion of the continent. The world’s eighth largest country, Argentina occupies an area more extensive than Mexico and the U.S. state of Texas combined. It encompasses immense plains, deserts, tundra, and forests, as well as tall mountains, rivers, and thousands of miles of ocean shoreline. It's poputaltion estimated of 45,195,774 people, and it's capital Buenos Aires, the heart and birth place of the Argentine Tango.
Introducing Professional Argentine Tango Dancer Analía Centurion:
Analía Centurion, is a professional Argentine Tango dancer & teacher, born in #Chacabuco, a city west of the capital of Buenos Aires (the birthplace of tango). She began dancing ballroom and stage tango in 95, when she was 16 years old.
Her first encounter with tango was at the age of 6, while taking piano lessons Analía, had to practice one of the most well known Tango songs, La Cumparsita. From that moment she felt a strong connection to the music which later transformed into her choice of dance. Her first tango event, in which her family was present, the applause moved her and excited her, and ever since she hasn't stopped gracing us with her elegance and precision, dancing Argentine Tango. https://tangocenturion.com
1. How has the pandemic affected your profession?
It has affected me in not being able to share the hug, the meetings, the social in person contact directly with my friends, family and students. And not to mention the loss of jobs, performing on stages, rehearsals, and canceled work related trips. But despite all the bad things that are happening worldwide, I connected with new projects and with my personal home. This pause helps me travel and be in contact in other ways with my loved ones, creating new possibilities in my personal as well as in my career.
2. What tips can you share about how you stay motivated during this time in your dance and in life?
I remain enthusiastic about my passions, by promoting my online Tango Academy where I help and accompany women so that they feel more confident and elegant with their personal tango.
I keep re-discovering myself both physically, mentally and spiritually.
I have conversations and chat with friends from different fields.
I read the books on topics that contribute and enrich my life and interests.
I have more time for Meditations that keep me more positive and help me reduce the anxiety of these moments. As well as sending good vibes to the universe.
I do exercises in company since alone it gives me a bit of laziness.
Maintain high self-esteem through my hobbies and pleasures.
I enjoy the mornings, as well as taking naps.
A good Argentine mate cannot be missed.
Analía in action @ home with her daily rituals and training in Argentina.
3. Can you share a song that motivates you?
"Todo Cambia" by Mercedes Sosa
"Tristeza" by Chango Spasiuk
4. Some favorite meditation or mantra, or saying that inspires you.
I mediate a lot using "Metodo Silva- Control mental", (Silva Method- Mental Control)