Romi Beppu, Ballet Blogging, Part II

Boston Ballet dancer Romi Beppu is back with a few more entries in her tour diary as the company heads through Spain. Please, boys, don't skip to the mini bikini section.
For the first Beppu blog, go here.

Sunday, July 22

First day in Las Palmas, also known as the Yanowsky family island. This is where Yury was born, trained and raised and the proof is on all of the walls in the Yanowsky studios where his parents teach and direct a school as well as a new company, just recently started. We were fortunate enough to be able to take class and warm up in the studios. We were very grateful for the space, mirrors and SPRUNG floor as all of us were hurting from the floor in Tenerife. Only downside; heatstroke in the studios from a combination of the heat weather and lack o circulation in the studio. Flushed faces, drenched leotards and all of the lovely aromas that come with an entire company of sweaty dancers.

“Oh my god! Someone’s feet smell really bad! Are they mine? I hope not! Maybe they’re Raul Salamanca’s – he was standing beside me at the barre. I should wash my flat shoes tonight!” Rie declares in a panic.

Tuesday, July 24th
Bit of beach, bit of work.

Class at 3pm, general rehearsal 8:30-midnight, with a 4 hour break. After class, and before rehearsal we decide to head out across the street where the Las Canteras beach is conveniently located. It’s almost 5 pm but the sun is still out in full force. We lay out the towels, strip down to our mini bikinis and soak up the island sun. Water is a bit chilly for me, but I dive in feeling refreshed once I make the plunge. Unlike many of the beaches back home in Hawaii, the water is calmer and easier to swim in. Within an hour, Joel, Kelley, Boyko, Pavel and Miss “ I am NOT getting a tan, or an inch of UVA, UVB, UV-whatever” Kuranaga appear and join us on the sand. Misa’s beach attire consisted of an ankle – length hotel robe, sunglasses that covered a third of her face, a scarf, a black umbrella and SPF 75 sunscreen in hand and ready to reapply. It was a sight. We all had a good laugh. She didn’t care, informing us about her bold “anti -sun” campaign. Unfortunately, none of us could be recruited.

7:30pm
Head back to the theatre for a general rehearsal. “Uh oh, what’s going on with the sky? Looks like rain.” Seems like we brought some Boston weather with us to Las Palmas. The stage is partially wet, lighting is impossible due to the electrical danger involved with wind and rain and sets are not able to be mounted. We wait, and wait, it’s getting chilly and we wonder if this rehearsal is going to happen. The boys are joking around performing a rain dance. The girls are applying bug spray as the mosquitoes are in search of sweet blood.

“I am so hungry! Does anyone have any food? Nuts? Cookies? Anything?” Lorna moans as she tries to sew ribbon on her pointe shoes in the minimal light given off a single bulb. Tempe offers her a piece of gum. At this point we all are tired and hungry and most of all wondering is this rehearsal will happen or not.

10:00pm
Decision made; mark through the 2nd Act in street clothes. That is the best we can manage tonight under the circumstances,. Secretly we are excited to be released 1 ½ hours earlier than scheduled.

Wednesday, July 25th

Day of our first performance in Las Palmas. We arrive, begin getting ready in our “trailer dressing rooms”. An interesting situation to say the least.

With minimum space, all of the principals and soloists are crammed in one little hot, stinky trailer. The theme is “dance camp” or “camping out while dancing”. We manage, but there is a lot of butt bumping and stepping over clothes, chairs and theatre cases. Patience and cooperation is the name of the game here. Melanie quickly announces, “ We all won’t be here at the same time for the Sylphide performances so it won’t be too bad. Balanchine program will be a little tight though.” First performance of La Sylphide felt a bit like a general rehearsal.