VOA标准英语2010年-World Class Ballerina Dances for Child

Dancing for the Children is a Britain-based charity that raises money for underprivileged children in Africa - the money raised goes towards fighting disease, setting up schools, and helping¹ children explore the joys of dance. The charity was founded by Italian ballerina Mara Galeazzi, who told VOA how dance can unite people all over the world, rising above cultural, linguistic², and geographic³ borders.

Through dance Mara Galeazzi tells the story of the brutalities faced by people all over the world.

Galeazzi's charity, Dancing for the Children, helps young people to do the same - express their own lives through movement. "Sometimes kids have their own mind, their own lives, and their own psychological problems maybe sometimes. And for me going to a ballet class was like expressing myself and letting all these feelings out," she said.

Galeazzi's charity teaches dance to children in Africa. She has been fascinated with the continent since childhood.  "Since then I always believed that I could have done something for them - whether I be a dancer or a nurse or something, but Africa has always been in my heart," she explained.

Galeazzi rehearsed these dances for a recent benefit performance in London. She and other Royal Ballet dancers plan to perform and conduct ballet workshops with young people in South Africa next year.

Dancer Gary Avis says dance is free from linguistic barriers. "Movement, it speaks louder than words, I think sometimes, and I think we're lucky that we have this chance to be able to express ourselves within movement," he said.

Three years ago Galeazzi and other dancers from the Royal Ballet went to Pretoria and Cape⁴ Town to dance with children there.

She says watching the emotion the children expressed through their movement was an inspiration. "They dance in front of us a number and it was quite incredible. Just the feelings they give is really special. And the children as well they performed in front of our little group that went to Africa and we were gob smacked⁵ [astounded]. I mean they were amazing… just to see them dancing and then afterwards they were very happy," she said.

Anger and despair are some of the emotions expressed by Galeazzi when she performs this dance - but also she says, dignity, hope, and the endurance of the human spirit.
 

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 linguistic   

adj.语言的，语言学的

参考例句：

• She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
• The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。

3 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

5 smacked   

拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。