Imela sem priložnost obiskati baletno šolo Balletto di Verona v Veroni in pred vami je intervju z lastnikom in pedagogom Eribertom Verardijem. Ena od 65 študentk na šoli in najstarejša med njimi je tudi devetnajstletna Teja Sever, pogovor z njo objavljam jutri. Pogovor je prevedla iz angleščine Claudia Sovre.
G. Verardi, lahko našim bralcem in gledalcem Parade plesa, ki vas in vaše šole Balletto di Verona še ne poznajo, razložite kaj več o njej.
Balletto di Verona je profesionalna šola, kar pomeni, da v njej pripravljamo učence v starosti od 13. do 18. leta, da postanejo profesionalni plesalci. Ti otroci pri nas študirajo vsaj pet do šest let na profesionalen način, kar pomeni udeleževanje vsakodnevnih treningov v dolžini dveh ur za najmlajše in do treh ter pozneje štirih ur dnevno za starejše učence. Šolanje sestavlja nabor raznovrstnih plesnih treningov: klasični balet, karakterni plesi, sodobni ples, baletni repertoar, tehnika na konicah prstov (‘špicah’ po domače) za dekleta in tehnika za moške plesalce (double tour, saut de basque ipd.). Ko učenci napolnijo 18–19 let, ponavadi končajo šolanje in začnejo iskati zaposlitev v profesionalnem svetu baleta, kar pomeni opravljanje avdicij za pridobitev pogodbe v baletnem ansamblu. V tem je tudi smisel njihovega dolgoletnega napornega šolanja.
Poučujete po metodiki Vaganova?
Da, z ženo Anno Guetsman poučujeva striktno po metodiki Vaganova. Oba sva se šolala po tej metodiki in jo zdaj predajava mlajšim generacijam.
Kako pomagate svojim študentom do zaposlitve v profesionalnem svetu baleta?
Preden sem odprl svojo baletno šolo Balletto di Verona, sem poučeval v raznih baletnih ansamblih: šest let v Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma, pet let v Arena di Verona in drugje. V svoji aktivni plesni karieri pa sem bil kot baletni plesalec zaposlen v gledališčih različnih držav – v Ljubljani, Zagrebu, Salzburgu v Avstriji, Sankt Galnu v Švici. V teh letih sem spoznal veliko ljudi iz baletnega sveta in ustvaril veliko mednarodnih vezi, ki jih ohranjam do danes. Veliko mojih nekdanjih kolegov je postalo učiteljev, nekateri kot direktorji vodijo baletne ansamble, in skozi povezavo z njimi, poizvedovanjem, kje so se odprla mesta za baletne plesalce, poskušam pomagati svojim mladim študentom.
K vam prihaja precej študentov iz različnih držav, kajne?
Zdaj lahko z veseljem trdim, da Balletto di Verona postaja prepoznavna mednarodna baletna šola. Gostimo kar nekaj študentov iz Slovenije, dve dekleti iz Litve, deklico iz Amerike, pravkar se nam je priključila deklica iz Japonske. Celo med covid krizo so se nam pridružile študentke iz Argentine in Mehike. To me izredno veseli, saj govori o tem, da naše delo poteka v pravi smeri ter da se je glas o kakovostnih študentih, ki prihajajo iz naše šole, razširil tudi izven meja rodne Italije.
Kako klasični balet danes konkurira ostalim plesnim tehnikam. Je postal staromoden, znova popularen, kako ga vidite v današnjem svetu in času?
Klasični balet bo zmeraj ostal klasičen. Lahko študiraš moderni balet, sodobni ples, vendar brez klasičnega baleta ne moreš uspeti, saj ta predstavlja prepotrebno osnovo, je kot mati vseh preostalih plesnih tehnik. Pomemben je tudi podatek, da na vsaki avdiciji za sprejem v profesionalni plesni ansambel želijo člani komisije kandidate najprej videti na treningu klasičnega baleta. Šele ko se prepričajo o čvrstem usvojenem baletnem znanju plesalca, ga bodo želeli videti v modernem ali sodobnem plesu, ali plesnem stilu določenega koreografa. Prav zaradi tega poskušamo svoje študente naučiti čvrste baletne tehnike, saj je to tudi danes najpomembneje. Če si kot plesalec močan v baletni tehniki, se lahko pozneje posvetiš kakršnemukoli plesnemu stilu želiš.
Organizirate tudi poletne plesne festivale?
Seveda. Če se ne motim, bo letošnje poletje potekala že enajsta poletna plesna šola Balletta di Verona, ki se odvija skozi ves mesec julij, traja štiri tedne in se je resnično udeležijo plesalci iz vse Evrope. V veronski Areni se v tem času namreč odvijajo zanimive predstave, tako da bivanje v Veroni v tem času nudi za naše goste pestro zabavo poleg udeležbe na intenzivnih vsakodnevnih različnih plesnih delavnicah. Plesalci si lahko sami izberejo, za koliko časa se bodo seminarja udeležili – od enega pa do štirih tednov, izbira je njihova. Takrat namreč v naši šoli potekajo poletne počitnice, zato se lahko prilagodimo udeležencem seminarja in njihovim željam.
Kaj nam lahko poveste o naši učenki Teji Sever?
Teja je izredno prijetno in profesionalno dekle. K nam je prišla v septembru in nadvse sem zadovoljen z njenim delom. Pri njej se lahko občuti močna strast do baletne umetnosti, uživa v njej, kar je izrednega pomena. Prepričan sem, da bo nadaljevala delo na ta način, našla svoje mesto v profesionalnem baletnem ansamblu. Seveda ji bom pri tem poskušal pomagati, stara je 19 let, torej ravno pravih let, da začne z delom v baletnem ansamblu.
Seveda si vsi želimo, da ji to uspe. G. Verardi, hvala za najin prijeten in sproščen pogovor.
Ni zakaj, bilo mi je v veselje.
In English
Mr. Verardi, can you explain for our readers and viewers, who do not yet know you and your school Balletto di Verona, a little more about it.
Balleto di Verona is a professional school, which means that it prepares students aged 13 to 18 to become professional dancers. These children study with us for at least 5 to 6 years in a professional manner, which means attending daily training sessions lasting two hours for the youngest, and up to three and later four hours a day for older students. The training consists of a set of various dance trainings: classical ballet, character dances, modern dance, ballet repertoire, technique on points for girls and technique for male dancers (double tour, saut de basque, etc.). When students reach the age of 18-19, they usually finish school and start looking for employment in the professional world of ballet, which means auditioning for a contract with a ballet ensemble. This also present the meaning of their many years of hard schooling.
Do you teach according to the Vaganova methodology?
Yes, my wife Anna Guetsman and I teach strictly according to the Vaganova methodology. We were both educated using this methodology and are now passing it on to younger generations.
How do you help your students find employment in the professional world of ballet?
Before opening my ballet school, Baletto di Verona, I was teaching in various ballet ensembles: six years at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, five years at the Arena di Verona, and others. During my active dance career, I was employed as a ballet dancer in theaters in different countries – in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Salzburg in Austria, Saint Galen in Switzerland. During these years, I met many people from the ballet world and created many international contacts, which I maintain to this day. Many of my former colleagues have become teachers, some of them lead ballet ensembles as directors. So I try to help my young students connecting them, and inquiring where positions have opened for ballet dancers.
You have a lot of students coming from different countries, right?
Now I can happily say that Balletto di Verona is becoming a recognizable international ballet school. We host quite a few students from Slovenia, two girls from Lithuania, a girl from America, and a girl from Japan just joined us. Even during the Covid crisis, female students from Argentina and Mexico joined us. This makes me extremely happy, because it shows that our work is going in the right direction and that the word about the quality students coming from our school has spread beyond the borders of my native Italy.
How classical ballet compares to other dance techniques today. Has it become old fashioned, popular again, how do you see it in today’s world and time?
Classical ballet will always remain classical. You can study modern ballet, contemporary dance, but you can’t succeed without classical ballet, because it represents a much-needed base, it’s like the mother of all other dance techniques. It is also important to note that at each audition for admission to a professional ensemble, the members of the commission want to see the candidates first in classical ballet training. Only when they are convinced of the firm acquired ballet knowledge of the dancer, will they want to see them in a modern or contemporary class, or in the dance style of a certain choreographer. It is for this reason that we try to teach our students solid ballet technique, as this is still the most important thing today. As a dancer, if you are strong in ballet technique, you can later focus on any dance style you want.
Do you also organize summer dance festivals?
Of course. If I’m not mistaken, this summer will be the eleventh Balletto di Verona summer dance school, which takes place throughout the whole July, lasts four weeks and is attended by dancers from all over Europe. Interesting performances take place in the Verona Arena at this time, so staying in Verona at this time offers our guests varied entertainment, in addition to participation in intensive daily various dance workshops. Dancers can choose for themselves how long they will attend the seminar – from one to four weeks, the choice is theirs. In this time our school is on summer vacation, so we can fully dedicate to the seminar participants and their wishes.
What can you tell us about our student Teja Sever?
Teja is an extremely pleasant and professional girl. She came to us in September, and I am extremely satisfied with her work. You can feel her strong passion for ballet art, she enjoys tha a lot, which is extremely important. I am sure that by continuing to work in this way, she will find her place in a professional ballet ensemble. Of course, I will try to help her with this, she is 19 years old, so just the right age to start working in a ballet ensemble.
Of course, we all want her to succeed. Thank you mr. Verardi for our pleasant and relaxed conversation.
It was my pleasure, you are welcome.
