L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano the pandemic with arte e bellezza (arts and beauty). That's also why every tour starts with a short clip of myself talking about how tough it was for me to not be able to dance. W e w e r e e x p e c t i n g you in Napa last year, b u t t h e t o u r w a s postponed. How did you d o t h i s p a s t y e a r a n d half, with the pandemic and the restrictions? The first lockdown was tough to manage, we were stuck at home until the end of May, it was hard to train and I could only do some s t r e t c h i n g i n m y l i v i n g r o o m . T h a t ' s a l s o w h y I started OnDance, a project to bring ballet in everyone's h o m e s o w e c o u l d s t i c k together with some classical d a n c i n g , w o r k o u t , a n d stretching exercises. At the beginning of 2021, I could go back to the gym and was also part of an Italian TV s h o w , D a n c i n g w i t h t h e Stars. Roberto Bolle was the first Italian dancer to be i n v i t e d t o t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n O p e r a H o u s e i n N e w Y o r k . What is your memory of that time? M y d e b u t , a l o n g s i d e p e r f o r m i n g R o m e o a n d J u l i e t , g a v e m e l o t s o f f e e l i n g s a n d e m o t i o n s . I have a great memory of that time, especially when they asked me to perform as a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, the first time that a male Italian dancer joined the company as a principal. New York is my second home, I grew up learning about new ways of training and working, the way the audience interacts with the artists. I learned all about these two experiences and I became aware of these differences and made the most out of them. W h a t ' s y o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n a u d i e n c e ? A l t h o u g h y o u d o n ' t k n o w a b o u t t h e B a y Area audience yet, what do you expect? I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n a u d i e n c e l o v e s Italians and Italian artists. They know that we are the l a n d w h e r e m a n y a r t i s t s were born and I myself have the honor to have become an ambassador of Italian arts in commercials, TV shows, and marketing campaigns. She m a r k e d t h e c h a n g e , b y breaking with the past and foreseeing the opportunity to introduce ballet to a large audience. That's what I am mostly grateful to Carla for. C a r l a F r a c c i w a s a s o r t o f m e n t o r t o y o u a n d n o w , y o u ' r e a m e n t o r y o u r s e l f . C a n y o u t e l l u s a b i t m o r e a b o u t t h i s u n i q u e experience? I l i v e d w i t h t h e responsibility of being an artist. Young people follow what I do and they look up t o m e . I w a n t t o s e t a n example for them, especially i n I t a l y . A s f a r a s m a l e dancers, there was nobody in Italy when I started and I became the one who could s h o w s o m e i m p o r t a n t v a l u e s , f o r e x a m p l e h o w hard work is, most times, the secret to success in this industry. What's your advice for y o u n g b a l l e t d a n c e r s who look up to you and w a n t t o a c h i e v e g r e a t goals in their career? Ballet is an art and, as such, it requires dedication, p a s s i o n , a n d h a r d w o r k . B e i n g a t t h e t o p i s n o t e n o u g h , y o u n e e d t o g o through pain and sacrifices, this art is something you n e e d t o f e e d e v e r y s i n g l e day, so that it can give you b a c k r e w a r d s t h a t w i l l ultimately feed your soul and spirit. The Festival Napa Valley c l o s e d a f t e r a f u l l programming and Maria Manetti Shrem, the well known philanthropist, one of the major donors of the Fest and Patrons of the Arts, E d u c a t i o n , M u s i c , a n d Medical Research, has lots t o b e p r o u d o f t h i s y e a r : " T h e 2 0 2 1 f e s t i v a l w a s a beautiful edition attended by i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r t i s t s a n d a u d i e n c e , " s h e s t a t e d . "Personally, nothing makes me happier than helping the best young talents express themselves and amaze the audience. Hosting Roberto the world. People appreciate me as Italian and they value me as an artist. New York is amazing, so is the audience. T h e y a l w a y s w e l c o m e m e with love. About tomorrow… I don't know much about this Festival's audience and I look forward to learning and discovering more about it. T h i s y e a r , I t a l y l o s t one of her biggest icons when it comes to ballet. W h e n C a r l a F r a c c i passed away, you said "I'd have done nothing w i t h o u t h e r . " W h a t ' s your personal memory of her and what made her the ballet dancer she was, in your opinion? I d a n c e d w i t h C a r l a F r a c c i m a n y t i m e s a s a y o u n g b a l l e t d a n c e r . I r e m e m b e r h e r h a v i n g a motherly approach. What impressed me the most was h e r a b i l i t y t o i n t r o d u c e everyone to ballet. People who weren't interested in c l a s s i c b a l l e t s t a r t e d a p p r e c i a t i n g i t t h a n k s t o Carla and her being part of B o l l e a n d F r i e n d s a t t h e Festival Napa Valley was an immense achievement. Rick Walker, the Festival CEO, and I worked for over five y e a r s , a l o n g s i d e t h e Consulate and the Italian Cultural Institute. When we had to postpone it in 2020 because of Covid, we feared i t w o u l d h a v e n e v e r happened. That's why we w e r e t h r i l l e d t o m e e t Roberto Bolle and see his performance on stage. My husband, Jan, and I have also signed Puccini's work Gianni Schicchi, directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini at h i s d e b u t i n t h e U n i t e d States." Mrs Manetti Shrem c o n c l u d e d : " T h e c l o s i n g night, celebrating the two w i n n e r s o f t h e M a n e t t i S h r e m O p e r a P r o g r a m - M a r i o R o j a s a n d S i m o n e M c I n t o s h - w h o s a n g a l o n g s i d e t e n o r M i c h a e l Fabiano, highlighted what i n s p i r e s u s : c r e a t i n g opportunities for the most talented artists from all over the world. " From far left, Consul General Sergio Strozzi with his husband Simone, Roberto Bolle, Angelo Greco (Photo credits: Drew Altizer) A principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre from 2009-2019, a principal dancer étoile at La Scala Theatre Ballet, and a guest artist with other top international companies, Roberto Bolle is one of Italy's most beloved artists Continued from page 30 SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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