Life

Ballet to cure the Mexico City traffic blues

July 29, 2018
A ballerina dances at a traffic light stop in Mexico City on Saturday. - AP
A ballerina dances at a traffic light stop in Mexico City on Saturday. - AP



MEXICO CITY - Remedios Rosas was walking down a Mexico City street Saturday when she saw seven tutu-clad dancers tiptoe to the sidewalk, their chins held high, and join pedestrians waiting to cross the road. When the light changed, music started and the dancers leaped into the street, twirling and twisting in front of surprised drivers. The 58-second show - the duration of a Mexico City traffic light - is part of a theater company's attempt to brighten the days of motorists at snarled intersections in this sprawling megalopolis notorious for its clogged roadways. Rosas ran home and brought back her two grandchildren to enjoy the street performances, which featured music ranging from ballet classics like Swan Lake and the Nutcracker to Michael Jackson's Rock With Me. The idea of the performances was inspired by photographer Oscar Rodriguez, who captured portraits of the dancers in the streets. Now, the performances are part of an initiative called "the theatricality of public space." Since the performances began two weeks ago, the dancers have drawn the attention of a stable of photographers, videographers, and even a drone operator, all looking to capture a story that continues to grow. "We never thought this was going have to this kind of impact," said one of the dancers, Manuela Ospina Castro. "Not only are people accepting it, but they need it. They need these kinds of activities to get closer to art". - AFP


July 29, 2018
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