Gremlin Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 Monday, my son auditioned for the ballet school of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy. We called the school today for the results and he was accepted!!!!! Now, if only I can learn to drive the Naples downtown traffic Quote Link to comment
Marga Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 Congratulations to your son and to you, too! You must be over the moon! Quote Link to comment
vagansmom Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 Yes, Congratulations, Gremlin, to you and your son. How far will you have to commute? Are you Italian? If not, have you always lived in Italy? Is your son's training all from Italian schools? If so, it would be really nice to hear about their training, especially once he enters his new ballet school. Also, if you know anything about ballet schools in Italy, especially summer programs (I suspect that's what we Americans would be most interested in), it would be lovely if you could take the time to post about them some day on our general SI board. My daughter says that if she could live anywhere outside the USA, she'd pick Italy. She loves it there: the people, food, weather, geography. Especially the audiences! They're very affectionate. Quote Link to comment
Renata Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Hi Gremlin! That is such great news for your son. My DD met some students from San Carlo at a summer program, and they were not only great dancers, but really nice people. You must be thrilled!! Ciao Quote Link to comment
Gremlin Posted June 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Yes, Congratulations, Gremlin, to you and your son. How far will you have to commute? Are you Italian? If not, have you always lived in Italy? Is your son's training all from Italian schools? If so, it would be really nice to hear about their training, especially once he enters his new ballet school. Also, if you know anything about ballet schools in Italy, especially summer programs (I suspect that's what we Americans would be most interested in), it would be lovely if you could take the time to post about them some day on our general SI board. My daughter says that if she could live anywhere outside the USA, she'd pick Italy. She loves it there: the people, food, weather, geography. Especially the audiences! They're very affectionate. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Commute time.......Without traffic (sunday), about 30 minutes. With traffic (all other days) about 1 hour. No, I am not Italian. We are American. My son's training started in America, but upon an evaluation by Ms Leigh last year, she noted he did not even know 5th position . He has been totally retrained by the Italians. He had 4 years total in America and been training here in Italy for the last 8 months. My experience with ballet is limited. I learn most things from this board. I am not good with terminology, so would have difficulty describing his training in technical terms. All I know is what he does now, he does correctly. They are very strict....expect you to remember and execute corrections, be on time to class, not miss class and don't goof off in class. (pretty much the same with most really good ballet schools in America). I can say that the audition process was unlike anything I had ever seen. Just the physical exam alone was 3-1/2 hours. Kids were turned away for things so slight.....things not even a physical deformity. Just the fact my son passed that portion of the audition seemed a miracle. And a 3 hour class for the regular portion of the audition! WOW! My son said he was exhausted! Boys were not accepted just because they were boys. My son said there was alot of flexing and stretching involved in the physical process. With that, they were looking for posture, etc. My son has 2 teachers from 2 schools. he says both teachers were wonderful with the training they gave him, but without one specific teacher, he would have never passed the physical. She worked on his flexibility and his feet, etc. The staff of the San Carlo was wonderful to my son. His Italian is limited, so they took him under their wing and personally escorted him to where he needed to be. He said one of the people judging (don't know the term) spoke English and helped him a bit in class. They asked him to do something. Apparently at this point, he realized the different forms of ballet. he asked if he could do a particular step the way he felt was more comfortable to him (could execute more cleanly) and they said yes and then explained to him the difference between Russian and other forms of ballet. (I have no clue. Not knowledgeable in forms of ballet). He said during a turn, his foot stuck to a piece of tape that had come loose on the floor. he was embarrassed, but asked if he could try again and they noticed what had happened and allowed him to try again. They were all very nice to my son. The other students were excited to see him. Before the physical, they stared at him.....curious. When he made it to the class portion, they crowded him and wanted to know what it is like in America and what it is like to take ballet in America, etc. They made him feel at ease and welcome there. Overall, it was a good experience. I'm sorry, I don't have any experience with SI's here in Italy. We arrived here late summer last year and have been so wrapped up with this audition and classes in preparation of this audition, that I did not really look into SIs for this year. They don't seem to be stressed here like in America about having students take SIs. I agree with your daughter. Italians have a love for the arts. My son is very well thought of when he tells people he takes ballet. he does not have to be afraid the wrong people will hear and doesn't worry about being teased. His first recital will be this coming weekend. Will be interesting to see the quality of dance as well as the costuming and set. This as compared to his school in America, which was small. The current school he is having recital with is still small, but we spent alot more in recital fees, so want to see if there is a difference. Of course, next year with the new school, I can't wait to see him perform. I will keep everyone informed as his training continues. He starts mid Sept. Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted June 12, 2005 Administrators Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Gremlin, I'm so happy to hear this news! Congratulations to your son, and I hope this new school will be a wonderful experience for him! Quote Link to comment
vagansmom Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Thank you, Gremlin, for taking the time to write a response. I really appreciate it! It's so much fun to learn about ballet in another culture. I do hope you'll continue to keep us informed as your son progresses through his new school. It's a very exciting time! Quote Link to comment
balletbooster Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Gremlin, This is all so exciting and we hope you will continue to give us a peek into the Italian world of ballet. Many warm congratulations to your son! Quote Link to comment
syr Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 yes, congrats to your son and thank you for taking the time to write and give us a glimpse of you ballet life in Italy. .... looking forward to more news from time to time. Quote Link to comment
balletbooster Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Does the school provide academic classes as well as ballet classes? Does this school provide a residence for students who live too far to drive each day? I'm sure that many here would enjoy hearing about the typical daily schedule at the school, when you get this information! Quote Link to comment
vrsfanatic Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 All the best to your son and family. I have never been to Naples, but I was in Russia with Riccardo Riccardi who is teaching in Naples, perhaps still dancing at San Carlo. He is a wonderful teacher and person. Are you living in Naples or else where? There is also Maria Fusco with her school in the Naples area. Both she and Riccardo graduated from Vaganova Academy, I know Riccardo as a teacher, but maybe Maria Fusco also! Enjoy Naples, enjoy Italy. See all that you can while you are there. My three years in Italy changed my world. Che vita! In bocca a lupo! Quote Link to comment
dancetaxi Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Gremiln: Congratulations to you and your son! You must be so happy and relieved!! I really envy the fact that you are in a part of the world that not only "tolerates" young male dancers, but truly appreciates them! It's times like this when you know it has all been worthwhile, huh? Best of luck! You'll have to be sure to keep us posted on how he does! Quote Link to comment
Vision Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Gremlin, Congratulations to you and your son! Being on top of the world is a lovely place for a dancer to be! We are excited about his continued training and successes! Vision Quote Link to comment
tu2mama Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Congradulations to your son! He's very brave to go to a new country to dance but it sounds like it has all worked out for the best. My daughter is traveling to Italy for a competition in about nine days. I don't know the exact city but it's in northern Italy. Her studio has been there before as well as Barcelona and Prague. This will be her first competition ever. Should be interesting! Quote Link to comment
Gremlin Posted June 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Does the school provide academic classes as well as ballet classes? Does this school provide a residence for students who live too far to drive each day? I'm sure that many here would enjoy hearing about the typical daily schedule at the school, when you get this information! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I will provide info about the schedule once I get it...hopefully Thursday...as that is the day we were told to call back. I'm sort of curious as well as my son has not been to a serious ballet school before with a full schedule....he has had to ask for additional classes or else go to 2 schools at one time. Not sure if San Carlo has academic classes or even a residence. It's an enormous school with more than just ballet. Maybe you can look up the San Carlo website www.teatrosancarlo.it They have an English version, but the admission process is all in Italian (and does not mention academics or residency) . They do have a section that talks about the school and it's history. Once Sept gets here and I am more comfortable with the school, I will ask questions. My limited italian makes it difficult for me to even ask the important questions I need answered right now. I am getting someone to translate for me, but I will get that info to you when I get the opportunity Quote Link to comment
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