Roberto Bolle
commitment to the audience, and you cannot let them down. Then is it worth it? Do you ever regret missing Things in your personal life?
Success is not the only answer. On a personal level, ballet shapes your mind, teaching you to face life. I was an introvert by nature, and I managed to connect with others, I increased my self-confidence and went beyond my limits. I acknowledged the importance of daily work to get great results and to overcome the stress. how?
When I first got the chance to dance in a significant theatre, I was so scared. I felt inadequate, almost panicking, until I managed to tell myself just to do my best and to live that moment to the utmost. After so much sacrifice, it would have been a shame not to enjoy it. Do you have a ritual before your shows?
I try not to, even though it’s easy to be trapped into superstition. I guess we all tend to create a routine — like wearing the same tracksuit, or putting on the right shoe first — but deep down I know it doesn’t make sense. Apprehension is part of the game, just like getting connected to the audience. As the curtain opens you perceive the people in the dark, the way they hold their breath before you start. is There an artist you Dream of Dancing with? I love duets, especially unusual ones. I did a few shows on Italian TV where I truly enjoyed pairing with Virginia Raffaele, one of our best comediennes. I must confess, though, that my dream would be to dance with Madonna, for I admire the way she keeps reinventing herself. has ballet evolved into a man’s world? what is your experience as a man within The industry? has The perception altered? Before entering La Scala Theatre Ballet School I was bashful and didn’t share my dancing ambitions with other kids, and that probably protected me from being mocked. Then I moved to Milan, where my whole world gravitated around ballet, so I never had trouble. I know I was lucky; still, things have changed a lot in the last few years, and I believe a danseur is nowadays widely accepted. what about The Toughest challenge of your career?
Injuries are the worst thing that can happen when you’re pushing yourself to the extreme. My body is powerful, so I’ve never had big problems; still, sometimes you have to stop, and it’s hard to accept that you’re human, not an engine. Also, if you think about it, engines can break too, it’s part of the game. Do you ever not feel like Dancing?
Not really. I may be tired, but I’m always longing to go on stage. Compared to other artists, we don’t work every night, we do a maximum of three shows a week, so we can’t wait to dance. what makes your life fun? Spending time with my “family” of colleagues. That’s what I call that bunch of people I grew up with at La Scala School. We’ve known one another for such a long time, we studied together, and we shared so much. Some of them are now part of La Scala Ballet, which means that we train together when I’m dancing in Milan. We work hard, but we do have lots of fun in the rehearsal rooms. La Scala is my home, a place where I perceive real friendship, affection, and respect. Then, of course, I love to have dinner or go to the cinema with my friends, and I like the show days very much. aren’t you stressed at all? There’s excitement in the air, but it’s a moment I quite enjoy. The good thing is that I can take the afternoon off to relax. After I rest a little, I eat something, and it’s time to dance. wherever you go, people know you even if They Don’t go To The ballet. Today you’re a famous Dancer, but what Do you see as your legacy for The future?
If someone should talk about me in 3018, I’d wish for it to be not just because of my success. My biggest goal is to be remembered as a man who spread the culture of ballet. I want people to get in touch with it, to create a bridge they can go through to feel its beauty and finally to love it. That’s why I created the Roberto Bolle and Friends gala nights touring around the world: To break barriers.
“I want people to get in touch with ballet, to create a bridge they can go through to feel its beauty”