Berlin!

Today I took class with Ballett Staatsoper Berlin. Company class was taught by Vladimir Malakov, the director of the company. Most of the dancers were in another class though, because they had an early stage rehearsal. Vladimir was exactly the same as I remember him from New York, and since I always saw him in Nancy Bielsky's class, I wasn't at all surprised that his class was similar. The company doesn't have any contracts at the moment, but who knows about further down the line.

To get to the opera house from my hostel, I took a tram and an underground train. Sometimes buying tickets is really confusing, but in this case a day pass for €6.40 covers all the forms of transportation. The underground took way longer than I expected, and I barely made it to class in time!!!

After class Leslie Krumwiede, the administrator, invited me to see the show tonight, and helped organize a ticket for me at the box office. This particular show is not held at the opera house, but at the Schiller theater, one stop away on the underground. This is the first ballet I'll have ever seen in Europe, and I'm very excited. I'll post my feedback afterwards!

I found a yoga studio near the center of town and took a very challenging class. I think I was struggling because my cold made it difficult to breathe through my nose, but overall I understood more German than the class I took in Dortmund.

Across the street there was a bead store, where they went a step further than I've ever seen with the types of things you can make! It's hard to describe, but I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow when I go back for another yoga class.

I also managed to do a little sightseeing today, in the FREEZING cold I found the Brandenberg gate, Reichstag building, and Holocaust memorial. Here are some photos, but as usual I have to apologize that they're not masterpieces.

I can't wait to report on the ballet!

Paris and Leipzig

And now I'm back on track after having a few days of break in Paris. I didn't take many pictures, but I had a wonderful time. My friend Greg was there, and took me to dinner where i tried escargot and fois gras! Here I am in front of l'Arche de Triomphe.

I also visited Montmartre, which was about as picturesque as anything could possibly be, even the tourists couldn't ruin it! For the rest of the day I had the Amelie soundtrack running through my head.

I was in Leipzig today for an audition, the first city so far with really miserable winter. The audition was ok but I move on tomorrow, to Berlin! I have a little cold but it's not so bad.

Oh, I got my hair cut to above my shoulders in Paris!

Last of Lyon, sent 4 days late

I've really been enjoying Lyon. Class with the company in that glorious studio was amazing, and it was really fun to see the company working. The director wasnt there, so nobody could give me much feedback, although they said he might be interested. I might try to organize another visit later in my trip.

I relocated from the hotel to the hostel, which is up a steep hill and overlooks the whole city. It was worth it for the view alone, although I had trouble sleeping so close to the loud main area, and the bathrooms were pretty awful. It just shows me that I can rely on the reviews online, because that's exactly what they said.

Yesterday was rainy but I finally got to do a little bit of sightseeing. I made a friend Corina who was also visiting Lyon, and we met at the mysterious castle (which is actually a cathedral called Fouviere.) It was massive and beautiful but I think I prefer the view from down the hill.

Walking around yesterday (I was kind of lost to be honest,) I stumbled on a Repetto ballet store. It was like a palace for ballet wear, and it was lovely. Im sure the salesman hated that I was taking pictures, but here you go.

I'm waiting for a train to Paris, where I'll be until Saturday. I'm very excited because I've never been before! It will be a little break in the middle of the trip!

Mysterious castle

I should've taken these pictures again in the evening when everything was lit like a magical fairy tale. I'll be sure to do that tomorrow once I've found out what exactly is in that castle, and whether the view from the top of the ferris wheel is any better than the view from that amazing studio. these are questions that will hopefully be answered soon!

Opera National de Lyon

Well, I found myself in the most beautiful studio I've ever seen at the Lyon national opera. This company is amazing and has an incredible repertoire, and all the dancers were really beautiful.

The opera house is an old renovated train station in the center of town, and the ballet is on the top level with a view overlooking the whole city. Can you believe this?? The pictures I took make the space look dark, but it was lit so well with natural light that it felt like you were outside!

I was invited to take class tomorrow and Wednesday, and I got to watch some rehearsal today. They were in the beginning stages of learning a Jiri Kylian piece, which was very interesting and beautiful to watch, and I really wanted to join in!!!

One of the pictures is the opera house through the cafe window where I'm sitting now. Some are from the entrance and outside views, and the rest are from floor 12! The dresses are props from Kylian's "petit mort," although I didn't see that one being rehearsed. I'll check tomorrow which one it was, when I get to take class in this amazing studio!

Arrived in Lyon

I've made it to Lyon (five trains later, but somehow still standing.) I realized along the way that correct grammar aside, I remember enough French grammar to construct sentences, and can read signs and communicate without that Swahili feeling. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, but I got myself from the station to the tram, to the hotel, by speaking only French.

I haven't actually spoken to anyone at the company in Lyon yet, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing here. I think mostly I decided it was time to go to France. I have until Thursday to try to organize class with the company. If it doesn't work out, a girl I met in Dortmund suggested some cool places to take class in Paris, right near Bastille and the Moulin Rouge, so that will be fun too.

In the dark I could still see what a beautiful city Lyon is. There are lots of old beautiful buildings, two big canals, and a very mysterious castle up on a hill. I'm very excited to do some exploring tomorrow. And yes, take pictures, which I know have been lacking.

I wrote this waiting for the train in Strasbourg

One way to fry your brain is to take the train from Frankfurt into the very edge of France, Strasbourg to be exact. Then try to ask for a pain au chocolate and a coke, and see if you don't accidentally speak German instead of French.

I'll be in Lyon by tonight, and maybe I'll have adjusted to the language transition by then!