Carla Fracci at Moncalvo in Danza Festival

Next week, saturday the 4th and sunday the 5th June, will take place Moncalvo in Danza Festival 4th edition. (www.moncalvoindanza.it)

The 5th of june Carla Fracci will be there as a guest of honour.

At present time we are used to see those Giselles with flawless technique but they definitely lack in something. Just her was able to convey such a filing acting that role.

Nowadays we are used to see those ballerinas with excelent tecnique but they lack in something only Carla Fracci could give to this role. She is not dancing Giselle, she is Giselle dancing!

I hope everyone of you remember the last scene of 1st act when Giselle goes mad and dies of a broken heart. Carla Fracci is able to appear so real in that performance.

This role fits her perfectly as it was made for her, really the best performance ever. She has no equal.

When we brough Giselle to Italy (at Teatro Smerarlo) in 1990 with the company of the Theatre and Opera Ballet of Tirana, we took inspiration from the ABT version with Erik Bruhn.

I don't know her in person but I saw her several times during my period at Teatro la Scala.


A Career Award will be given to her during Moncalvo in Danza Festival and I will have occasion to thank her for what she gave to ballet.

(per leggere il post in italiano clicca sulla bandierina)

An Unconventional "Swan Lake"

There are a lot of versions of the well-known ballet "Swan Lake". Today I would like to bring to your attention this unconventional performance of the "Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe" (中国广东杂技团).

As you can see from the introduction, it seems to be the "Swan Lake" everybody know. They are wearing tutus and pointe shoes. But don't be taken in by appearances!

The leading dancers Yu Wanqing (the swan) e Chen Dong (the prince) are acrobats.

This show is the perfect mix between dance and circus.

Yu Wanqing is every bit as good as a professional dancer. 

She has a good turnout and a strong back.

This strong back and a good abdominal muscles control are the things that allows her to keep those kind of balances on her prince's head. 

After the success of this pas-de-deux performed in 2004, the whole show had been produced in co-production with Shanghai City Dance Company in 2006. 

Below the show trailer.

The show is divided in five parts: The Dream, The Quest, The enchanted Lake, The cave, The Salvation/Pas De Deux.

On the stage there are more than 100 between dancers and acrobats.

Costumes and scenography are suggestive and they recall the original Swan Lake.

The magic of this show took whole Europe's breath away, above all the audience of Covent Garden Theatre in London where the show made its debut.

This is what the choreographer Zhao Ming told to the International Herald Tribune:  "People usually talk about the skill of acrobats and the beauty of ballet. Now. they can talk about the beauty of acrobats and the skill of ballet."

(per leggere il post in italiano clicca sulla bandierina)

The ballet "Lola"

Tirana 1980

In 1980 the Tirana Opera and Ballet Theatre was producing the ballet "Lola" (music by Sergei Vasilienko), a wonderful ballet set in Spain. This ballet has never been performed in western countries.

The choreographer created this work for his Degree Examination at GITIS (The Russian Academy of Theatre Arts).

Bolshoi produced this ballet in 1943 when Moscow was surrounded by German troupes during World War II.

In a few words the story is about Pablo (Lola's lover). He was captured and executed by french troupes as he was a rebel.

Lola absolutely wanted to revenge Pablo's death. She got into the french barracks and seduced the Captain bringing with her a poisoned  wine. 

The Captain was very doubtful and invited Lola to drink the wine first. Lola, determined to avenge his beloved, drank it all in one swallow. Captain were convinced by Lola's behaviour and drank all the wine together with her.

Vengeance was accomplished but both of them died.

Lola's body was brought by spanish population out of the barracks as a heroine.

The choreographer did a very brave choice. As a third cast he chose some young dancers: Tatiana Sulejmani (Lola), Ilir Kerni (Captain) and me (Pablo).

It was considered a brave choice because dancers have usually to perform a lot of shows to obtain a leading role....and we performed just a few.

After our performance something unexpected happened: the success of this ballet was outstanding! I couldn't even imagine!


In that week in Tirana everyone was talking about this ballet, in every street in every home. In my opinion the success was so big because the protagonists of this tragedy were engaged not only in the show but also in real life.

This was a wonderful experience for us and this success open our way for new leading role in the Tirana Opera and Ballet Theatre and after this experience we became the youngest "principal dancers".

(per leggere il post in italiano clicca sulla bandierina)

Men's Rhythmic Gymnastic

I really admire armony, fluid movement, physical preparation and acting. This does not mean that ballet for me is the this important thing. All arts that poses those features are worthy of note.

Have you ever heard about Men's Rhythmic Gymnastic? I do not be surprised if you answer was NO. (www.menrg.com)

Currently Rhythmic Gymnastic is a wemen's sport but there is a movement that presses for the introduction of  Men's Rythmic Gymnastic. This movement starts in Japan where the first championship have already been organized (All Japan Championships).

This movement has been exported also to Spain.

Please watch this video.

This video you have watched is Men's team of Rythmic Gymnastic of Aoyama University (青山大学 あおやまだいがく). They won the first prize with this performance.

They are all sychronized and their movement are clean with no mistakes at all.

In order to obtain this kind of risult the hours they spent for their training is considerable, as well as for dance.
Really enjoyed it a lot.


(per leggere il post in italiano clicca sulla bandierina)