|
"I am not musical," he said, nervously eyeing the MP3 player with which I was recording the interview, adding that he had studied the piano when he was younger, but that now there is only dance.
Since Roberto Bolle is a famous (and very musical) dancer who guests throughout the world, I decide it was probably all right for him to give up on the piano practice. We are sitting in the artists' café at the Royal Opera House and Roberto looks gorgeous in a black jumper and dark trousers. He is anxious about his English (far, far better than my Italian!), but with a talent like his - who needs words?
The dancing began when he was very young indeed. One moment he was watching ballet on the television, the next he had joined in and was dancing away in front of the television screen. So, at the age of seven he found himself enrolled in a local ballet school. His progress there must have been good, because he was accepted at La Scala's ballet school at the age of twelve.
That was the beginning of a
hard time for Roberto. La Scala was the best school in the country; he had to study there if he was serious about his career. But his family was a close one and it was difficult to be alone in a big city. "I was a bit sad," he confides. "I was really alone." He was boarding with an older woman, which made it hard to meet friends of his own age. On the weekends he went home to visit his family, but there were still the lonely weeks at school. (His family is still very close. They watch him dance quite often, coming up to Milan for every new production; now the problem is to find enough tickets for them all. His brother and sister-in-law have travelled to London to see him dance, while his parents came to the Royal Opera House for the last night of The Nutcracker.)
How has he liked working with the Royal Ballet? "It is difficult because of the level - high - much higher than La Scala," he says, but he's clearly loved every minute. "The Opera House is really wonderful. The rehearsal facilities in London are unique in the world." (The studios at La Scala are about to be rebuilt, but he doubts they will be anything like as good as the ones at the ROH.) The atmosphere during rehearsals is very good as the dancers work really hard, "but in a good way". And the teachers are great! While preparing for his performances with Darcey Bussell, he has been lucky enough to be coached by Donald MacLeary.
And Darcey Bussell? How has he liked working with her? "It's beautiful I have to say." He thinks she is the best ballerina he has ever danced with. I ask why, as he has partnered some of the best around. "She is so perfect," he says, "and so clean. But she is so nice with me; it is really a pleasure to dance with her, because you know that even if you make a mistake she is always very nice and very kind."
"The first time I came here last year
for Nutcracker we did the opening night." Rather nervous about the opening, he'd found Darcey incredibly helpful. She "supported" him and he remembers "that during the pas de deux she told me to breathe and to stay calm. She's really wonderful." This was an important moment for him. He'd been invited to guest with the Royal Ballet after Anthony Dowell saw him dance with ENB (Romeo - and also the Prince in Swan Lake ). The performances were a success and he was asked to return.
I asked him about that last brilliant performance of Swan Lake which he danced with Darcey on the 2nd December. Yes, he said, it was "really amazing" - a great show. Darcey is "really special. She has everything. She is beautiful, strong - she is a very nice person." The nightmare had come during their second performance, when Darcey was ill and had to withdraw at the end of Act Two, her place being taken by the very talented and expressive dancer, Zenaida Yanowsky. Roberto had just returned from Moscow that morning and only had half an hour to rehearse with Zenaida - who is taller than Darcey and made him feel small. (For Zenaida - whose official debut in Swan Lake was the very next evening - lack of rehearsal must also have been a worry. But luckily there wasn't much time for nerves, as she was brought in at such short notice.) It's a tribute to both dancers that they managed to finish the performance so successfully.
Despite Roberto's modesty, he can hardly be considered a new boy in the world of ballet. He continues to dance regularly with La Scala, but he's also guested with Staatsoper in Berlin, Finnish National Ballet (Giselle, he likes their repertoire) and all over Italy: Florence, Rome and Verona. This means that he has little time to spend at home, no more than three to four months a year. And even then, he's kept busy organizing his next trip, since bookings must be made nearly a year in advance. It's fortunate that he likes to travel (and doesn't see himself becoming a permanent member of any company) because there is enormous pressure to guest as much as possible. To stay at the top, you have to maintain a high profile. He would love to dance in America as he has never performed there! In spite of his success, Roberto has no special coach and takes class with whatever company he is dancing with. It's all good experience. Perhaps when he is older, he will want to stay in one place. A smile and a shrug.
Dancing is not his whole life , however. Last year he was asked to be the Italian Good Will ambassador to UNICEF. He felt really honoured to be invited to do such important work while he is still so young, but thinks they were looking for someone who would appeal to the younger generation. He's been to charity events and auctions and is planning a trip to Africa which will take at least two weeks out of an already crowded schedule.
When asked about holidays
he grins and blames his agent for making him work too hard (dramatically holding up his arm in a three-fingered salute: that's ballet-talk for I swear this is true!). His agent - present and laughing during this performance - said no, it was all Roberto's fault; he's the one who loves to dance! He was off to do another Nutcracker in Milan and then a fashion show in Paris (for the Japanese fashion designer Masatomo) at the end of January.
But back to ballet. Does he have any favourite parts, I ask? Romeo, in particular. He's sorry he's not doing Romeo and Juliet this year as he loves the MacMillan production. Des Grieux is another favourite. Although he's only danced the role once, he found it a "beautiful" part, more beautiful even than the prince in Nutcracker or in Swan Lake. He prefers roles that show emotion. "You can show different qualities to the public and you are not so worried about the technical side." He is quite shocked at the idea of changing steps to suit himself or his abilities and always dances the particular version of a solo which goes with the production he's dancing. "I think it is important to do the solo of the version you are dancing." It can be difficult, however, to perform several different versions of the same ballet - and especially so when those differences are slight. (Completely new choreography would be easy to remember.) During a time when he was flying back and forth between London and Berlin to dance in two different productions of Nutcracker , Roberto admits to having had a few bad moments while dancing the pas de deux. Usually, it takes two to three weeks of rehearsal to prepare for a series of guest performances. ("A long time to stay in one place," he says, but it's an opportunity he enjoys. He dreams of the MacMillan version of Romeo and Juliet and would love to do it at the ROH next year (" Come back, Darcey!"). What would he dance if he had the choice? Onegin (with Darcey!) as he has already tackled the role of Lensky in the same ballet.
And what other ballerinas would he like to dance with? No-one. Just Darcey. "She's the best I have ever danced with. "
British readers will have a chance to see Roberto again in August, dancing with La Scala (Giselle ) and at Sir Anthony Dowell's Gala (partnering Leanne Benjamin).
Thank goodness. Another chance to see that wonderful smile.
You can read more about Roberto and see some gorgeous photos at his web site.
| 
