Eleven Days with Nunez

Author Fiora1913 Licence CC BY-SA 4.0 Source Wikipedia Commons

 

The latest Danceworks newsletter offers early bird discounts on a range of courses, masterclasses and intensives. One that grabbed my attention was an 11-day summer intensive with Marianela Nuñez and Alejandro Parente,  The course starts at 09:00 on Thursday 17 Aug 2923  and continues until 13:00 on 31 Aug 2023.  Dancers can attend the course at Danceworks' premises or online. The cost of attending the studio is £950 unless booked before 30 March 2023 in which case it reduces to £900,  The cost of attending online is £200.

My readers will need no introduction to Marianela Nuñez.  She has been a principal ballerina with the Royal Ballet for over 20 years.  One of my favourite clips on YouTube is the flower throw to celebrate her 20th anniversary with the company after she had danced Giselle.  Although Nuñez trained at the Royal Ballet School and has spent her entire career with the Royal Ballet, she was born in Argentina. As a Hispanophone, she would have been brought up on Don Quixote.  When cast as Carlos Acosta's first Kitri she dazzled audiences with her performance in that role.

Less well-known in this country is Alejandro Parente although he has already given classes at Danceworks.  He is a compatriot of Marianela Nuñez who dances with the Teatro Colón ballet as a principal.  When the International Bar Association visited Buenos Aires I attended a reception at the theatre and a tour afterwards which is massive.  I have yet to see a show there.  On both of my two visits to Argentina, the theatre was closed.  

Danceworks' intensive is not for everyone.   Attendees much have reached intermediate status or above,   Danceworks makes clear that this is no course for beginners.  Nor, I imagine, is it a course for those who started ballet 54 years ago when already an adult.  Although I try hard not to envy the attendees at this intensive I cannot help reflecting on how much I would have enjoyed this opportunity to dance with two of the greats when I was younger, stronger and more agile.

For those who do not know the studio, Danceworks is at 16 Balderton Street, London, W1K 6TN.  It is not far from Bond Street underground. The entrance to the street is almost opposite Selfridges.  The studio's phone number is 020 7629 6183.