Huatulco

GE August 2, 2016

Last year I went to Oaxaca for the first time. I got to know the capital pretty well and I must say it was one of my best trips so far. After a year of an insatiable desire for Oaxacan cuisine, I decided to spend my summer vacation in Huatulco.

I had never been to the Oaxacan coast before and was very surprised when I got there. The main attraction in Santa María Huatulco is its nine bays and thirty six beaches. This beaches are completely different than those I had seen before. Most of the beaches I had visited where very plain. Usually, sand that extends alongside the water to what appears to be infinite. Instead, the narrow bays in Huatulco create a more intimate relationship with nature. The beautiful Pacific Ocean along with the jungle make every corner a splendid panoramic view.

There are many ecotourism activities that can be done while in Huatulco. A great idea is to road trip to nearby beaches like Mazunte, Puerto Escondido and Lagunas de Chacahua (maybe I will do this next time I am around this area).

I spent most of my time in Huatulco relaxing and doing nothing at the beach. I also went shopping to the town´s artisans market plus I got to eat delicious Oaxacan food. The good thing is that I ate enough Tlayudas for the rest of the year.

I am very grateful with Montecito Beach Village for inviting me to spend a day at their facilities and beautiful beach. MBV is a housing complex, perfect for a couple of days of relaxation, tranquility and contact with nature. My visit there was perfect. Amazing food, an almost private beach for myself and a very kind and warm staff (thank you Stephan and the rest of the staff!). Not many housing developments of this kind manage to crate a harmonious atmosphere along with nature. The establishment celebrates and revolves around the idea of a healthy relationship between urbanism and Mother Nature. This is why many of the materials used for the construction of Montecito Beach Village are the same that can be found nearby in the coastal region. Anyway, I had the best day watching the waves crash at the shore and letting my mind wander around.

It is very exciting to go out of the country on vacation. But it is also important to get to know the wonders that our beautiful Mexico encloses. We should take advantage of our free time and explore the world, a great idea is to start discovering our own country.

-Greta

Rediscovering Los Angeles

GE June 22, 2016

When I was 14 I went to Los Angeles, California for the first time. I was there for a summer intensive with the prestigious ballet figure Marat Daukayev. I went to all the main tourist attractions plus I experienced what it was like to "live" in LA for a little over a month.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to spend a long weekend in LA with one of my best friends from (ballet) school. We had not seen each other in a while, California was the perfect excuse to meet up with.

I remembered the city pretty well but it was completely different discovering it now compared to when I was 14. This might sound kind of funny but LA reminded me a little of Acapulco. There was a golden age around 1950´s where Acapulco became a very popular spot among millionaires and Hollywood stars. The fame plus fashion and architecture during those years still prevails in Acapulco now a days. This might be the reason why LA streets reminded me of this Mexican city.

I did almost everything in my to do list, plus some other awesome things that were not written down in my black moleskine. Here are my "Top things to do in LA" :

Santa Monica

It is a city west to downtown LA (around half an hour driving) where you can spend all day shopping or relaxing at the beach. In my opinion, doing both is the best combination.

Brew HaHa

This was an amazing experience. Brew HaHa! consists of a comedy show/ drinking game. It is a very relaxed show at a backyard where you can sit and have a lot of fun. Once the show ends you can stay and enjoy the party! I had never been to a stand up comedy show. My friend´s brother is very involved in the comedy business so he suggested we should go. I am so glad we did, now that I have "discovered" comedy I cannot wait to find another great show like this. They have a Brew HaHa at least once a month. Look them up on facebook if you are planning on visiting LA.

Zinqué

It is a very cool restaurant in Melrose Ave. A great place for a drink or a nice dinner. You should totally get the Le Bowl which has brown rice, avocado, arugula, chicken, parmigiano reggiano and some other veggies. Great, now I am craving it...

LACMA

Somehow I had never visited Los Angeles County Museum of Art before. I started following their Snapchat stories (@lacma) and fell in love with this museum. Through their stories they combine art, sarcasm and jokes. At the museum you can find works starting from ancient times up to the present.

Have a nice week!

-Greta

Photos by Michelle Katcher and Greta Elizondo.

Design, Art, and Fiction

GE April 4, 2016

Fondazione Prada is an institution dedicated to contemporary art and culture as well. On May 2015 they opened to the public its new permanent venue in Milan. Luckily I went to Milan just in time to visit Fondazione Prada´s exhibitions.

It is a very interesting museum, most exhibits include a lot of abstract art. What I found to be the most amusing, was the architectural design of the museum itself. I do not know much about architecture. But my family has always been very involved in it, giving me a good sense of what great architecture is really about. Every corner of Fondazione Prada has a gorgeous and fine design. Good thing I happened to visit the museum with my brother and cousin which are both architects.

My cousin Eugenio, myself and my brother Stefano.

Never underestimate de power of a gold wall.

Do you know Wes Anderson? He is the film maker behind The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom and many others. If you love his movies and style used in them, you need to go to Bar Luce. It is a café designed by the great director, located inside Fondazione Prada. Just by sitting at a table you feel like you are taking part of a Wes Anderson film set in a 1950´s or 60´s Milano.

Fondazione Prada is a bit far from the historic centre but definitely worth going.

-Greta

One of the best views of the castle and park.

Treasures of Milan

GE March 25, 2016

Walking all day in the city can get pretty tiring. Not only physically but mentally. It is a good idea to find a space in your schedule where you can relax your mind and body. If yoga is not an option, you can always rely on finding a beautiful park to let your mind rest.

I am very intense while traveling. No matter what, I have to wake up early and do as much as possible every day. I love my crazy traveling days even though I end up exhausted. This is why last summer I decided to take off an evening from being a tourist and visited Parco Sempione.

Parco Sempione is located in the historic center of Milan. So far it is my favorite park in Milan. During the summer there is so much life. People playing soccer, running or just hanging out. It is the perfect place to get away from the chaos in the Piazza di Duomo area.

The park was established in 1888 and designed by Emilio Alemagna. He created beautiful panoramic views by contrasting the Castello Sforzesco and the Arco della Pace (two of the main landmarks in Milan).

If you happen to be in Milan, do not forget to visit Parco Sempione and explore its many wonders.

-Greta.

All Roads Lead to Rome

GE September 12, 2015

Finally Roma!! I had never visited before. We all have a lot of references about what Rome looks like but what it feels like to be walking through its streets and ruins is a completely different story.

Probably one of the most recognized landmarks of Rome is the Colosseum. It was built between 70-80 A.D, started by Emperor Vespasian and finished by his son Titus. The amphitheater could seat around 50,000 people. All sorts of games and entertainment could be seen at the Colosseum, from gladiator fights to naval combats (yes, somehow they flooded the arena for this).

It truly is an architectural masterpiece. Of course the building by itself is stunning but even the small details in the inside show that Romans had brilliant minds. For example, along the staircases there is a small canal used to drain the water out of the building, possibly very useful for cleaning.

The Roman Forum was the main plaza of ancient Rome. Surrounded by government buildings, citizens would meet here for political or economical business. Being able to walk through the Roman ruins is just incredible. It gives us a better understanding of how the Roman Empire became so powerful. In my opinion the key was not only to have a strong army but to use their architects and engineers at their fullest potential.

There is so much to discover in Rome. You can be walking around the narrow streets, not really knowing where to go and all of a sudden end up standing right in front of a magnificent ancient building, like the Pantheon.

The Pantheon is thought to be almost 2,000 years old. Aside from standing in perfect shape, the Pantheon´s elegance and explicit design is a very good example of the great architecture implemented by the Roman Empire. At first it was built as a temple to all gods but later was turned into a church, historians think this is one of the reasons why it has survived. It is very famous for its dome. The dome´s weight would have been to heavy to be supported, so Roman engineers made the walls thinner on the upper part and also used lighter materials. Also the distance from the top to the floor is proportional to its diameter making the design even more impressive! (I was lucky to be traveling with my dad who is an architect).

I learned so much about the greatness of the Roman Empire but specially the understanding of the "All roads lead to Rome" saying.

-Greta

Photos by Greta Elizondo and Gabriela Garcia.

A day in Firenze...

GE September 1, 2015

Traveling to Italy without visiting Firenze felt like I was missing out on a huge part of the Italian heritage, and I was right. From the lovely old and narrow streets that resemble those of Verona, to the multiple master pieces that are scattered around in museums, Florence takes you back to renaissance Italy the second you set foot in it.

It is also a reality that the amount of tourists visiting the city can make it a very, very, very tiring journey. I cannot complain too much being a tourist myself but I assure you will have a better time enjoying Florence if you visit at a low season.

By reading about the political power the Medici´s had and its cultural impact to the rest of Italy and the world, I always pictured Florence a much bigger city. Which is actually very nice if you only have a day to visit it. Just make sure to plan your visit very well since just admiring the David and shopping at Via de´Tornabuoni can take all day.

I am usually an enthusiast when it comes to appreciating a beautiful view, even if it means going up 463 stairs on the hottest week of the summer. Since going in through the main entrance of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore meant I had to wait in line for two hours, I decided to explore Brunelleschi´s famous dome instead. Luckily I got to see some of the cathedral from the inside and a very close look to the frescoes decorating the inner part of the dome.

It was indeed a very peculiar adventure, walking through the tilted dome walls on a very narrow staircase, having people coming down while I was going up, and really just longing some fresh air and a cold gelato. Finally you get to the very top. The view is incredible and calm, it is perfect for letting your mind fly around.

I got to the Galleria dell´Accademia ready for the one and only David, one of Michelangelo´s most famous work. When I was on the train from Milan to Florence I realized I was scared to see it. Sometimes you set your expectations so high there is no way reality can live up to what your mind created. But it did and even exceeded it. So majestic and marble-ous. Proportions, expression, details, everything about the David is just pure perfection.

Still in awe after seeing the David, I continued my journey to the Uffizi Gallery. I had to see it very quickly, almost running in order to get a glimpse of every artwork. Once I got to the Botticelli room there was no way I could keep on running. There was a huge crowd in front of this painting I had to see, I pushed around a few people in order to be as close as I could get to the Birth of Venus.

So many times before I had seen it in books, but being able to distinguish every brushstroke made by Sandro Botticelli was fascinating. The only thing that seemed weird to me was the vibrancy of the colors. I know pictures in general get very edited but for some reason all the pictures I had seen of the Birth of Venus had really strong aquas and blues. It was not the case, the light of the painting was a little dim compared to what pictures usually show. I wonder if the colors have faded or if that is what the artist aimed for. Either way it is one of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen. I know I say this a lot but anyone who has seen it will agree with me!

It was almost departure time and with no more energy in my body I crossed the famous Ponte Vecchio. All along I was traveling with my cousins and sibling, Florence in a day is a lot to take in. Once on the other side of the bridge we got some granita and sat on the street. I felt like I was wasting time by not going to another museum. But then thinking about it, when was I going to get another chance of just sitting on a street in florence for an hour and a half?

-Greta.

Photos by Greta Elizondo and Eugenio Garcia.

i-D México

GE June 16, 2015

Last week I was contacted by i-D México for an interview. i-D is the British magazine created by Terry Jones in 1980. Its main focus is fashion and urban culture viewed from a much more liberal point of view compared to the customary magazines.

The article I was interviewed for talks about young talented Mexicans, meaning young people who have discovered what their passion is. Sometimes I am so involved in my dance life that I do not pay attention to all those people following their own dreams. This is why I really enjoyed being in this project and seeing so many talented people. In any field doing what you love can be very hard to achieve, sometimes it seems impossible but not giving up is the key for success. I admire all of you who no matter what do what you feel passionate about.

Here is a translated version of my interview, you can see the whole article at https://i-d.vice.com/es_mx/article/jovenes-talentos-mexicanos-parte-uno

Thank you i-D magazine for an incredible experience.

Remember that your comments are always welcome!

Greta wearing Bimba y Lola

GRETA ELIZONDO 22 YEARS OLD, BALLET DANCER

At what age did you start dancing? When I was 8. It just happened, my mom took me to ballet classes as all moms do and little by little I started to really like it. By 10 i knew ballet was what I wanted for my life.

What do you like the most about dancing, what do you feel? That feeling of being alone on stage... there are no words to describe it but it is like being in a world where you are someone else, because its never you on stage and you have the freedom to express yourself and do anything to get to the audience´s heart.

What do you like the best of being young in 2015? I think being young in any time is great. But right now you can take advantage of social media, there are older dancers or dancers in another era that did not get as recognized because it was not as easy.

Is there something that really bothers you? A lot of things, one of them is people throwing trash on the streets because the ideal would be for everyone to recycle but at least do not throw your trash on the street.

How do you see yourself in five years? I see myself still doing what I love the most, hopefully with more achievements and still growing as an artist.

What project are you working on? I am currently with the Compañia Nacional de Danza, we will be dancing Giselle at Palacio de Bellas Artes and I will also be dancing with Mexico City Ballet at the end of this month.

Are you in love? Yes.

Fotografía Dylanne Lee
Estilismo Nayeli de Alba
Maquillaje y Peinado Adrián González Carmona
Asistente de Estilismo Emiliano Villalba
Asistente de Producción Sofía Cerda

-Greta

la Sylphide

GE May 24, 2015

Too perfect for this world.

La Sylphide, the ballet created by tenor Adolphe Nourrit is set in a village in Scotland. James is engaged to Effie, a local girl. The day of the wedding James is haunted and seduced by a sylphide; an ethereal spirit which only he can see. James falls onto the sylphide´s charm and follows her to the forest, interrupting his wedding. The sylph shows James her world in the forest, and he proclaims his love for her. The sylph avoids his grasp since she is a spirit of the air and she will die if touched. Desperate, James takes a veil from Madge (a witch with evil intentions) and is advised to use it to capture the sylphide. When he finally captures her, the sylphide´s wings fall off and she dies.

Adolphe Nourrit brought this ballet to Filippo Taglioni, master of the Paris Opera Ballet. He choreographed it and casted his daughter the great Marie Taglioni as the sylphide in 1832. Marie Taglioni gained most of her prestige from this role. In 1836 August Bournoville choreographed his own version of La Sylphide, which is the most popular nowadays.

Taglioni is famous for what is thought to be the beginning of pointe work in the history of ballet. Before her many dancers had been going up to the very tips of their toes, but doing it merely as a trick. Marie incorporated this "pointe work" into her dancing but in a subtle, elegant and elevated way. Pointe work back then would be what it is today a really high relevé, almost on pointe but not quite. At this time they did not have modern day pointe shoes, instead they used softer satin shoes.

La Sylphide is commonly known as a revolutionary ballet because it brought Romanticism to the stage. It is a great example of the emotions and ideologies of the Romantic Period. The unattainable love, the longing for a higher world, and the communion between nature and man.

This is my favorite picture overall, I have given it different meanings. The death of the sylph, maybe how she left the dress that made her visible to the human world, or simply what is left of her. For the entire season I have been perplexed with the idea that sylphides should not be able to die since they are spirits. I finally found a different point of view that gave me some peace of mind. A french Abbé named Montfaucon de Villars stated that " sylphides were made of pure atoms of air and yet they were mortal; the elements of which they were composed could decompose".

Today we have the last La Sylphide performance of the season. It is a beautiful ballet in the studio but once it is all set in the glorious Palacio de Bellas Artes´ stage it all changes. The lightning, scenery, and costume designs really bring out the best of each dancer while transporting the audience to a different world.

Dancer Sonia Jimenez in a pre-performance shoot with photographer Carlos Quezada.

Sylphides are less than angels but more than men, enemies of the Devil and servantes of God, according to Montfaucon de Villars.

Hope you enjoyed it and it would be great if you could come watch us perform this beautiful ballet. Your comments are always welcome!

-Greta

All photos by Greta Elizondo

Acapulco Express

GE April 10, 2015

The last few weeks where a little frenetic, tiring, and stressful. Every day is usually like this when you are a dancer since it is such a demanding profession. After five weeks of dancing Swan Lake at the Chapultepec forest, the season ended with an unexpected rainstorm leaving the dancers unable to say good-bye to the stage until next year.

When a season is over there is a physical and phsycological release. This is the time to rest your body and mind in order to focus again in whatever is next. Sometimes this process can be difficult to achieve because we only have a couple of days to recover. Luckily this year we had some extra days off and could take a little vacation.

The destination was Acapulco, city in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast. It has a great national and international tourism tradition since the 1950´s. The truth is I did take advantage on relaxing and clearing my mind.

Dancing at the beach still counts as resting...right?

I got the chance to see the most beautiful sunset I have ever experienced. The sun looked pink almost fuchsia, even though it lasted a few minutes this was what I enjoyed the most on this trip. Nature can be so wonderful.

I feel guilty for not getting to know the city better but I guess I will have to come back. Until later Acapulco!

-Greta

Photos by Alexander Mitiaev and Greta Elizondo

Last of Swan Lake

GE April 1, 2015

During the final days of Swan Lake season we had a surprise visit by talented photographer Daniel Ptatlán. He was part of a team from Mac Cosmetics (more about that coming soon!), he shot beautiful pictures during the warm up and the show.

I couldn't resist to share some of them, hope you enjoy them!

you can check out the whole session at www.desde1989.com

Swan in Vogue

GE March 2, 2015

The first Swan Lake week is over, we "only" have four more to go. The premiere went pretty well, but no matter what it is always a shocking experience to do Odette.

On a related note, Vogue Mexico talked to me and followed me around for Swan Lake rehearsals (yes, Vogue as in the magazine!) and the article just came out tonight.

Words cannot describe my excitement to see my picture on Vogue Mexico´s website.

Go to http://www.vogue.mx/moda/estilo-vogue/articulos/greta-elizondo-ballet/4871 to read the full article.

I promise I will get to my non-ballet posts really soon, there is just so much ballet going on lately!

-greta

Swan Lake

GE February 26, 2015

Every year the company has a 4-5 week Swan Lake season. The premiere for it is tonight.

It is a very different version than any other you would see. We do it outdoors in the Chapultepec forest. The stage is surrounded by water and has real trees all over it. Sometimes making it hard to dodge them while dancing.

Even though it is a difficult stage to dance on ( dealing with bugs, trees, and watery eyes from the cold wind) the natural setting really makes this ballet unique.

I will be dancing Odette, the white swan tonight. I am feeling a little very anxious and scared but hopefully it will go well (fingers crossed). If you happen to be in the audience please enjoy it and send all sorts of positive energy to us.

-greta

GRETA ELIZONDO 22 YEARS OLD, BALLET DANCER

Another Pointe