Interview: Sanja Ninković, a ballerina of the National Theatre in Belgrade

Colour fireworks in the streets of Guadalajara

Without tequila and the mariachi I certainly would not have experienced Mexico to the full. In "Casa Mariachi" tavern we witnessed a real spectacle: with the help of some joyful traditional tunes and wearing the distinctive costumes of the mariachi, a big orchestra accompanied the singers who took turns on stage. The Mexicans with sombreros on their heads encouraged the guests to dance. Dancing on the stage with them, we realized that, regardless of the differences in language and milage, we have fun with the help of music and songs in the same way


By SANJA PANJESKOVIĆ
Cooperation with the magazine of Association of hispanists "REFLEJO"
Translation: SANDRA IVANOVIĆ


Sanja Ninković (26), a young and talented ballerina, whose dance you can enjoy during all the performances on the repertoire of the National Theatre in Belgrade, this season performs the ballet performance called "Viva la vida" as well, inspired by the personality, creativity and the inexhaustible will for life of a Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The commitment to ballet provided Sanja with the opportunity to get to know not only Spain but also some distant countries of Hispanic world, such as Colombia and Mexico. She agreed to share her experiences in meeting with Mexican culture, dance, people, colour fireworks in the streets of Guadalajara... with our readers.

- I was pleasantly surprised by the great number of people who came to our ballet performances. Taking into consideration that we performed in smaller Mexican towns - Guadalajara, Tampico, Monterrey, Ciudad Victoria and three towns on the border with the U.S.A. I expected more modest theatres and less audience. We met, however, with lavish theatres, large stages and a large, packed auditorium - says Sanja Ninković and adds: - The audience loved the play, even though it is a not really popular classical ballet play. In addition to our performance, the audience ovations were encouraged by the music to which the play had been made by our composer Goran Bregović. The Mexicans were well aware of his work, since he had a concert right here in Guadalajara before our tour.

"Queen Margot" marked a great success at the National Theatre in Belgrade as well. Did that encourage you to perform it in some other Spanish-speaking country?

- It was precisely "Queen Margot" that brought us to Spain, to Bilbao and Santander, a port city on the northern coast, and then to the capital of Colombia. The scene with the ensemble of 40 dancers truly was magnificent, while a ballet performance of Mila Dragićević (the protagonist), Konstantin Kostjukov, the great player of the National Theatre, and Milan Rus contributed to the fact that the quality of the performance be recognized during all our performances.

After hard work, you managed to find time for sightseeng as well. What impression did Mexico make on you?

- It is interesting how many surprises are hidden away by the cultures distant from Europe. We can read and hear about them, but the impression they make during the direct contact is really incredible and incomparable. Museums, squares, endowments, they all talk about Mexican being, since pre-Columbian days, during the colonization and the Viceroyalty, until the new era and contemporary Mexico. I was fascinated by the architecture and content of the Museum of Mexican history in Monterrey, where we felt being a step closer to their national history and met with some extraordinary works of art and figures of people in their life-size. In Guadalajara I was charmed by Tlake Pike, a bohemian part of the town that resembles the Skadarlija, the meeting place of artists, the part where there are also some restaurants, studios and galleries, where you can find handmade jewelry, sculptural works, paintings and souvenirs of all shapes and colours.

Owing to the fact that our tour coincided with their widely celebrated Day of the Dead, the biggest impression on me made the colour of Mexican streets. You could smell velvet, and at every step we could see the altars full of colourful small items, flowers, candy and skulls, which the Mexicans used to pay homage to their dead. Coloured skulls of various sizes are the trade mark of Mexico in this period.

You had the opportunity to get to know Mexico from another perspective, too: through its national cuisine, music. How different actually are Serbs and Mexicans, for that matter?

- Without tequila and the mariachi I certainly would not have experienced Mexico to the full. In "Casa Mariachi" tavern we witnessed a real spectacle: with the help of some joyful traditional tunes and wearing the distinctive costumes of the mariachi, a big orchestra accompanied the singers who took turns on stage. The Mexicans with sombreros on their heads encouraged the guests to dance. Dancing on the stage with them, we realized that, regardless of the differences in language and milage, we have fun with the help of music and songs in the same way. Food, on the other hand, is completely different from ours. Instead of a light breakfast there was some beans on the table waiting for us, meat and similar foods that could be found in Serbia on the menu for lunch. However, they always compromised and reduced the amount of spices in food. They're really friendly, natural and direct in communication.

It sounds incredible when you say that getting to know 40 people in the ensemble, whom you tour some exotic places with and make some unforgettable experiences, is a part of your job?

- In the ballet troupe of the National Theatre there are as much as 80 people! Sometimes frendships, parties after the premiere, work with colleagues and travels make a greater impression on me than the performance itself. The ballet is an art of the young and as such promotes the well-being of its practitioners. There is reciprocity - senior colleagues are being rejuvenated by this job, and from their experience young people have much to learn. Our job is difficult and a demanding one, especially nowadays when the conditions for practising art are not really ideal. However, it is a great fortune to do something you enjoy, and each of us is honoured to be a part of the National Theatre.



(Published: 10.05.2010.)