Viva La Vida

GE July 13, 2016

Today is the death anniversary of one of the most influential women in Mexican history. Feminist, artist and ambassadress of culture in México and the world. The painter Frida Kahlo.

Frida´s works are one of a kind. According to different critics, her style goes back and forth between surrealism and realism. Frida considered that she was more inclined to realism because she portrayed real life events in her paintings. Frida was able to make the public empathize with her suffering throughout her works. During her teenage years, she suffered from an accident that changed her life. The bus she was traveling in crashed with a trolley leaving her with a very damaged body. She never fully recovered from the accident which led to many health problems in the future. This experience pushed her to let out her feelings through art. At La Casa Azul ( museum of Frida Kahlo) we can clearly see how her paintings evolved through the years. They all have a similar style but each one owns a different motive. She created an open book of the concerns, agony, love and happiness she experienced through in her life.

Frida was constantly getting surgeries because of her deteriorating health. She even got one leg amputated. The struggle for keeping a healthy body defined a lot of her fashion style. She wore painted corsets and long skirts with vibrant colors in order to hide her injuries. She started to incorporate a lot of regional Mexican dresses into her wardrobe, especially the Tehuana style. She would wear this typical garments from our country with an inimitable style. A very important element in Frida´s life was her marriage to the muralist Diego Rivera. They both greatly admired each other. They were an unconventional couple, they loved each other but they also tormented each other.

" And even if its not true, tell me that you love me and can´t live without me." -Frida Kahlo

I am wearing a dress I recently bought in Oaxaca. The Frida Kahlo portrait was painted by my grandfather.

Even in her time Frida was known and praised by the artistic and cultural society of México and abroad. She held exhibitions in New York, Paris and México. It is amazing how she has become an icon that represents a new type of woman and the flourishing of a modern México. Kahlo has inspired fashion, literature and even ballet. She was a woman politically active and interested in the fate of humanity. She was a woman who never lived behind the shadow of Diego Rivera and who opened her heart to everyone who appreciated her art. She was a woman who excelled for her singularity and peculiar outlook on life.

Thanks to her art we now have the opportunity to take a peek into her soul and appreciate the world exactly how she lived it.

-Greta

The Pearl of the Adriatic

GE May 28, 2016

Aside from watching them play at the world cup and having one of my favorite flags, I did not know much about Croatia. I think most of us have a vague idea of their political conflicts throughout history but in reality it seems like a distant and rare country to us. Last summer I had the chance to visit this fascinating country as the last stop of my trip around Europe.

I visited a little bit of the Dalmatian coast, like Split, Kotor and Budva but mainly I visited Dubrovnik. It is a magnificent city! The new town is very pretty with a lot to discover but the main attraction is the old town.

Placa or Stradun street. One of the main streets of the old town.

One of the top things to do is to go up the ancient Dubrovnik City Walls which go around the town for almost 2 km. Up there you can walk surrounding the city and admiring the view of the Adriatic Sea. Dubrovnik is one of the few cities that still retain its medieval walls in such good shape and appearance. This city which is often called "the pearl of the Adriatic" is so peculiar and unique that it can´t get confused with any other.

In old times, Dubrovnik gained a lot of power from maritime trade. Nowadays the city has become a very popular travel destination. If you happen to be a Game of Thrones fan, then you should know that many scenes where filmed in Dubrovnik´s Old Town ( They have a GOT tour and everything).

After visiting the city I took some time to relax and unwind at the beach.

Croatia is quite different from what I imagined. I did not think it would have such amazing an powerful sceneries all around. I wanted to take pictures everywhere (kind of did). I really hope I can go back and have more time to get to know this country as well as their culture.

-Greta

Photos by Greta Elizondo and Gabriela Garcia.

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

Roaming in Rome

GE September 14, 2015

There is no way of visiting Rome without going to the Vatican City. You do not have to be religious whatsoever. There is so much history enclosed within its walls, but the most amazing part is seeing incredible art in every corner.

St. Peter´s Square (the Vatican´s main plaza) was designes by Lorenzo Bernini in 1656. I think the entire plaza is very harmonious and radiates both respect and beauty. The main element is St. Peter´s basilica, which I found to be one of the most stunning churches I have ever seen. I was not expecting less but the exactitude and balance of all the decorations makes it abnormally fascinating. It is also home of Michelangelo´s La Pieta, sadly I did not get to take a picture of it (please look up a picture).

I thought the David was pure perfection but this sculpture goes beyond perfection. Being a dancer I find it strange how something motionless is able to transmit emotions. I have seen paintings and sculptures where there is clearly an emotion that sets the mood of the work. But somehow La Pieta, a piece of delicately carved marble, is able to make the viewer cry. Completely motionless, but Mary´s face while holding the body of Jesus portraits such an honest pain that it gives the viewer the opportunity to live that moment with her.

The Vatican museum was incredible. If you plan on visiting, I highly recommend you to not do it in mid July. There is too many people, it is not the same thing when you have no one pushing you around. Even though it was crowded, there were moments in which I was so emotionally connected to the artwork that nothing could bother me. This happened to me when I entered the famous Sistine Chapel. I stared in awe at Michelangelo´s frescoes for as long as I could and then I left the Vatican feeling gratified and overjoyed.

Rome is quite a journey. Getting lost and letting your curiosity wander around is a great way to experience and get to know the city. The Tiber River, ancient Roman sculptures, Egyptian obelisks, interesting markets and shops...there is just too much to explore!!

Altare della Patria. Just a humble monument for Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy. — *Altare della Patria.* Just a humble monument for Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy.

Sometimes you can find a G for Greta in some pretty strange places.

Roma you will be missed!!!!!

-Greta

Photos by Greta Elizondo and Luis Elizondo.

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.

Roads to the South

GE July 25, 2015

It is funny to think about the ideas we have about a place we have never been to. Countries or cities that we recognize from their name or location but that we do not know much about. We create an idea based on a word, image, or memory that we link to an unknown place.

When I was young and lived in Monterrey, the only thing I knew about Oaxaca was that it was located very far south and that wild jaguars lived there. I created an image that wasn't that inaccurate but a bit exaggerated. I visited this summer and obviously I did not find a wild jaguar in the middle of the city. it was different than what I imagined but I loved it.

With a great variety of culture, art, and gastronomy Oaxaca de Juarez is the capital of the state of Oaxaca in México. For all types of tourists this city is a must see. The visible fusion between the pre-Columbian and colonial era is so rich in history that it traps you and amazes you more and more as you get to know it. It is home to two important cultures, the Mixtecs and Zapotecs. After the Spanish conquest it became one of the riches cities of the New Spain, leading an incorporation between the indigenous and spanish gastronomy, handcrafts, and traditional dances. This state is known for keeping pre-Columbian roots alive, for example a big part of the population dominate different indigenous languages such as the Mixtec.

It really is an enchanting place, don´t doubt on visiting Oaxaca if you have the chance. You will not only find yourself surrounded by pre-hispanic ruins and colonial churches but also with unique markets, restaurants, and art galleries. Soon I will share with you more about what I did in this beautiful city.

-Greta

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

From Mobiles to Stabiles

GE April 24, 2015

Here it is, Part II of my last post. This is about the museum next door to the Soumaya, the Jumex Museum. The building designed by british architect David Chipperfield is a space for the expression and appreciation of contemporary art. The museum hosts different exhibitions throughout the year, It is always a good idea to keep an eye on it.

A little off topic.... I got that "diamond ring" from the MoMa store in NYC. There is always a weird something you can find at museum stores! — A little off topic.... I got that "diamond ring" from the MoMa store in NYC. There is always a weird something you can find at museum stores!

Not knowing what I was going to see, I walked into the museum to find myself surrounded by paintings, mobiles, jewelry, and stabiles by Alexander Calder.

Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was an American artist, known for bringing together "unconventional" materials to create art. He also revolutionized sculpture with his mobiles and stabiles made with painted metal.

Sadly I could not take pictures inside the museum but in order to show you a little of what I am talking about I got some pictures off the Calder Foundation website.

The exhibition starts out with what Calder called "objects". This objects are wire works representing animals and portraits in a three dimensional way. Next you will find some oil paintings but most importantly the famous mobiles and stabiles waiting to be gazed at. In the beginning of his career Calder created mobiles; sculptures in which motion is involved. The basis of equilibrium together with air currents or human interaction gives the sculpture perceivable movement. Later in his career Calder created stabiles which are stationary works.

It is noted that Calder was stunned and influenced by Piet Mondrian´s abstract work. In my opinion Calder´s work has a lot of similarities to Joan Miro´s for example the use of primary colors and organic figures. They both had completely different techniques but their similarities make me think they might have shared a special and peculiar way to express themselves. I would love to see an exhibit with this two artists side by side. Wouldn't that be great?!

Calder also did some monumental sculptures like this one in L.A!

I highly recommend you this exhibition. If you happen to be in Mexico City or somewhere in the world with a Calder exhibit, go see it right now!!!

-Greta

Photos by Alexander Mitiaev

Soumaya Museum

GE April 15, 2015

Sometimes it can be hard to squeeze in your weekly schedule a visit to a museum, performance, exhibition etc. Being on the cultural domain I feel that as artists it is our duty to experience all types of art and to not enclose ourselves in our specific "field". We chose to commit our lives to the arts and therefore should celebrate and support them all.

The arts provide an outlet to creativity and expression, this has influenced humanity throughout history. We should all be trying to incorporate a little extra art into our lives (it is never enough).

I must say I am trying to make this a habit (after ballet hours) and sometimes it is very difficult to accomplish it. It helps a lot that there are so many museums in Mexico City. The other day finding myself in a rush I went to the Soumaya museum which is close to where I live. It is free and open every day of the year so there is no excuse for not going.

The museum is home to Carlos Slim´s personal collection. There is a lot of European and Mexican artwork as well as religious relics, pre-hispanic sculptures and so on. If you happen to be walking past the Soumaya (which you will recognize because its one of a kind architecture ) do not hesitate to go in. If you do not have much time you should definitely start by the top floor *spoiler alert* and find lot of Rodin!

Have a nice day and keep updated for part II of this post...

-Greta

Photos by Alexander Mitiaev and Greta Elizondo

GRETA ELIZONDO 22 YEARS OLD, BALLET DANCER

Another Pointe