美国国家公共电台 NPR Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe Brings Dance Education To Paris' Underserved Communities

 

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Now to Paris where audiences are enjoying the first stop of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's European tour. For almost 60 years, the company has been performing modern dance inspired by the African-American experience.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MARTIN: Wherever the company goes, it also reaches out to underserved communities to offer dance education. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley recently visited a master class in Paris.

ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE¹: While the Alvin Ailey dancers perform nightly to urbane² audiences at a concert hall on the western edge of Paris, another scene unfolds during the day across town at the Georges Bizet public conservatory³.

MATTHEW RUSHING: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: In a large dance studio lined with mirrors, longtime Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer⁴ Matthew Rushing is giving a lesson - a master class to a group of preteen dancers in black leggings and bare feet. Rushing says he first became inspired at about their age in an afterschool program in California. Then he saw a production of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.

RUSHING: I will never forget. There were two ballets that really touched me deeply. That's when I, for the first time, realized that you can see yourself in art.

BEARDSLEY: Reaching out to young people that may not have the chance to go see a ballet continues to be a central part of the dance group's philosophy even when they're on tour abroad.

RUSHING: Because the more we share our stories, meaning African-Americans, Latin⁵ Americans and any kind of culture sharing their own story, we see our stories in everybody else's story. And it reaches past culture and speaks to spirit.

Do you know why I am asking you to do it by yourself?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: When he lacks the French vocabulary, Rushing relies on an interpreter to communicate with the eager young dancers.

RUSHING: Exactement, exactement. Tell them you can't be a dancer and be timid⁶.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: The American Embassy⁷ in Paris connected the Ailey Company with these kids. Emmanuel Oriol is the director of the conservatory in this working-class neighborhood.

EMMANUEL ORIOL: (Through interpreter) What I appreciate about Matthew is he is extremely encouraging with his students. He is rigorous⁸, but he also motivates them with positive words. This positive motivational American culture really inspires them to dance better.

BEARDSLEY: Thirteen-year-old Kiara Montoyasinera says she simply loves this dance class.

KIARA MONTOYASINERA: Like, Alvin Ailey, it's one of the biggest dance companies in the world. I just find it incredible⁹ just being here and doing this and this person coming to France and giving us classes.

BEARDSLEY: Twelve-year-old Matteo Prevosto says he dreams of being a dancer and signed up right away when he heard who was coming to teach them.

MATTEO PREVOSTO: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: "It's pretty stressful when it's your turn to dance alone, and he tells everyone to watch you," says Prevosto. "But this teaches us how to have more confidence in ourselves. We're really improving a lot."

MATTEO: (Speaking French).

BEARDSLEY: And with boundless¹⁰ energy and enthusiasm¹¹, Matthew Rushing pushes them further. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

(SOUNDBITE OF ALVIN AILEY'S "I BEEN BUKED")

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 urbane   

adj.温文尔雅的，懂礼的

参考例句：

• He tried hard to be urbane.他极力作出彬彬有礼的神态。
• Despite the crisis,the chairman's voice was urbane as usual.尽管处于危机之中，董事长的声音还象通常一样温文尔雅。

3 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

4 choreographer   

n.编舞者

参考例句：

• She is a leading professional belly dancer, choreographer, and teacher. 她既是杰出的专业肚皮舞演员，也是舞蹈设计者和老师。 来自辞典例句
• It'stands aside, my choreographer of grace, and blesses each finger and toe. 它站在一旁，我优雅的舞蹈指导，并祝福每个指尖与脚尖。 来自互联网

5 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

6 timid   

adj.胆怯的，害羞的

参考例句：

• The rabbit is timid and suspicious.兔子胆小而多疑。
• He was timid about investing money.他不敢投资。

7 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

8 rigorous   

adj.严密的，缜密的，严格的，严厉的

参考例句：

• The arms trade should be subject to rigorous controls.对军火贸易应该严加限制。
• The planes have to undergo rigorous safety checks.飞机必须经过严密的安全检查。

9 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

10 boundless   

adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的

参考例句：

• The boundless woods were sleeping in the deep repose of nature.无边无际的森林在大自然静寂的怀抱中酣睡着。
• His gratitude and devotion to the Party was boundless.他对党无限感激、无限忠诚。

11 enthusiasm   

n.热情，激情；巨大兴趣；热衷的事物

参考例句：

• We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
• A team which is full of enthusiasm is more likely to win.情绪高涨的球队更可能获胜。