VOA标准英语2010-Choreographer Uses Egyptian Dance to Brid

Diana Calenti brings a taste of the Middle East to American audiences

Mohamed Elshinnawi | Washington, DC 16 April 2010

Diana Calenti says she connects cultures by showing how different people share human expression and feelings.

Diana Calenti's love for Egypt is not something new. She first traveled to Cairo years ago to teach modern dance. While there, she developed a unique style of her own, blending various elements of ballet, American modern and Egyptian folkloric¹ dance.

Now, the renowned² American dancer and choreographer³ is introducing Egyptian folkloric dance to audiences in the United States with her new troupe⁴ of American dancers. It's her way of connecting the two cultures.

"Our hearts are the same. We all love. We all have the same feelings of sympathy," said Calenti. "We all love our children. We love our parents. We love our homes so we can always meet on those common grounds. And what better way than from the artists because we always speak to the heart and the soul." 

 

Dancer Alexa Wehlan says her experience dancing to Egyptian songs is a mix of learning about the culture from Calenti and self-reflection.

"She would explain the song to me then really you have to feel it. I do not know all the words of the song. And I just use my personal feelings and situations to put towards the dance," said Wehlan.

Diana Calenti first traveled to Cairo years ago to teach modern dance.

The Egyptian American Cultural Association in Washington recently staged a program of Calenti's work.

"They can see how the performers connected right away and they move very freely, very passionately⁵ with the music as if they feel and understand every bit of it as a cultural native of that particular culture," said Magda Kandil, vice⁶ president of the association.  

The American audience seemed to appreciate the performance.

"It seems that Diana is trying to put the two together, just adding clips from Egypt and parts from America to form a melting pot of the Egyptian American cultures. So we really enjoyed the performance," said one man in the audience.

Calenti says she deeply believes that dancing connects people.

"Once you reach the hearts of people, it doesn't matter what language they speak, they feel something from the artist." 

Calenti says she will continue her mission of connecting cultures by showing how different people share human expression and feelings.

 

1 folkloric   

adj.民间传说的；民俗的

参考例句：

• In the rush to go folkloric watch out for collision of cultures. 在民俗化的热潮中，要提防不同文化的冲突。
• Lunch blowout beside the pool, accompanied by folkloric dancing (Vanity Fair) . 盛大的午餐在游泳池边进行，还有民族舞蹈助兴（名利场）。

2 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

3 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

4 troupe   

n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团

参考例句：

• The art troupe is always on the move in frontier guards.文工团常年在边防部队流动。
• The troupe produced a new play last night.剧团昨晚上演了一部新剧。

5 passionately   

ad.热烈地，激烈地

参考例句：

• She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。
• He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。