Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Tour to Abu Dhabi: Some more photos from Gina Scott and friends


Gina Scott and Abby Bushnell on the way to Abu Dhabi
Jenny Laudadio and Elena Diéguez
The Souk: Gina Scott, Seraphine Detscher, Abby Bushnell (photo by Hannah McDonald)
Shoes at the Souk (photo by Abby Bushnell)
Do anybody has any idea what are they? Souvenirs at the Souk (photo by Hannah McDonald)
Abby Bushnell is sandboarding
Anisa Sinteral-Scott and Gina Scott (photo by Hannah McDonald)
Feeling good
Marianne Bassing and Gina Scott
Dune dance
Gina Scott and Saverio Pescucci

Palm tree (photo by Hannah McDonald)
Gina Scott is sandboarding (photo by Saverio Pescucci)
Saverio Pescucci and Gina Scott
Devadasis in the desert
Gina in arabesque (photo by Saverio Pescucci)
Time to say good by to Abu Dhabi


Dresden again


3rd April 2012 
by Gina Scott, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Gina Scott











Waking up this morning for class at 10.00am was not too bad. It was great to sleep for over 9 hours, compared to what I had in Abu Dhabi this was a luxury, but the main thing I was ready for my day. It was strange to think that only 1 day ago I was in another country. When on tour I was surrounded by constant noise from company members, it was such a delight, this morning it was strange as there was complete silence. On tour we would go to the beach before class. But reality sinks in very quickly back to normal, although on a positive note it is so nice to be back as well 'home sweet home'. On my way to the theatre the sun was shining which was very pleasant, although it was slightly chilly, but refreshing.
Skies in Dresden
Once I got to the theater and ready for class, in the studio there was a good vibe, everyone was so happy and talking about their amazing trip to Abu Dhabi. During class I realised that when in Abu Dhabi occasionally I was finding it difficult to balance, at the time I just thought maybe I was tired. When I got back to the Semperoper Ballett's studio thankfully everything was fine. I was really curious so I asked some of the company members who also had the same experience, very strange! But I really don't know why. Class was a lot of fun, I really felt stiff must have been to do with all the travelling. By the end everyone was feeling that there body were tired. Rehearsals started from 11.30am and went on until 6.00pm rehearsing Coppelia for the show on Thursday. During the day, in my break I visited Boglarka Hatala who is the Personal Coach - Body Awareness Physio at the Semperoper Ballett. After I had started rehearsals again the day was good.  It was really nice to be back and get into my routine. I will really miss Abu Dhabi, but as everyone knows that always happens when you experience something new. When I look back at all my photographs it really was fabulous, it is like what you see in movies. It really was a very interesting place and it great to be able to say we experienced the culture. I will speak on behalf of the company members, the Emirates Palace it was such a privilege to have the opportunity to dance there. It was incredible inside the palace, the walls where marble and there was so many other wonderful features, it was lovely to see the decor and ornaments all in gold it really looked so grand, it truly was exquisite. Coming back to Dresden, knowing that the company had a performance of Coppelia in 2 days is so exciting.

During the Coppelia rehearsal
Dancing on the Semperoper stage is also amazing.  I really have a dream job, being able to dance in Dresden and around the world on different stages, to be honest I couldn't ask for anything better.
After a days work at the Semperoper (photo by Gina Scott)



Tuesday, April 03, 2012


Day 4: The Free Day


1st April 2012 
by Gina Scott, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Gina Scott










Everyone was super excited we really couldn't wait. It took approximately 30 minutes to get to the desert. Once we arrived our drivers took us on an amazing ride in the desert, it was like a roller coaster but even better, it was absolutely fantastic, it felt like we were travelling at a considerable speed. We stopped off and had a look at some of the wild camels, it was totally unbelievable, I have never seen so many in one place, everyone felt the same as they were all taking photographs.

Jeeps in desert (photo by Virna Toppi)
After getting back really late last night or should I say very early this morning at 4.00am. By the time everyone got organised for the day’s events it was very late, some of the company had about 35 minutes sleep before getting up again for our camel ride at 6.00am. We were all extremely tired and wishing we were still in bed, but kept telling ourselves it’s not every day you get to do these amazing things. We all met at the hotel reception where 4 jeeps were waiting to take us to the desert.


Camels (photo by Virna Toppi)
Virna Toppi and a camel (photo by Saverio Pescucci)
 Smile (photo by Virna Toppi)

We continued on our journey in the jeep, at which point many people started to feel unwell. On several occasions the drivers had to stop.

Many people started to feel unwell... (De Windstoot/The Gust by Willem van de Velde the Younger)
After a while we had another stop so that we could take photos of the desert, the sun had started to shine, this view was spectacular. We had the opportunity to run on the sand dunes, this encounter was truly amazing.
Abby Bushnell and Marianne Bassing (photo by Virna Toppi)

On the next part of the journey on our desert ride, we got some well deserved drinks, we were all so hot! Then the camels arrived, two people were able to fit on one camel. We were all fascinated by how the camels positioned themselves so that we could get on them and then how they stood back up with people on their backs.


 Camel Ride (photo by Virna Toppi)
This really was fascinating to watch and the experience was wonderful. We also did sand boarding down the sand dunes, this was great fun and at first a bit scary.

However, once we got our confidence we didn’t want to stop. This whole experience will definitely be something I will never forget, I was overwhelmed by the whole adventure, it was an experience of another world and something to remember. At the end of the expedition we got dropped off back at the hotel.  As it was our free time we wanted to take the opportunity to fit in as much as possible.We went to the beach and had some lunch and snacks, then on for a quick swim. A group of us headed to the Jets ski’s but made sure we put on our sun tan lotions and creams to protect our skin. I was bit scared at first as I didn't know what to expect. We all got on the jets, there was 8 of us in total with 4 jets.

Adventurers: Hannah McDonald, Marianne Bassing, Gina Scott, Marc Wandsleb, Abby Bushnell, Zarina Stahnke, Ian Whalen, Anisa Sinteral-Scott
This was another fantastic experience, I was on the back of the jet ski and could really see a stunning view of Abu Dhabi.  After riding around on the ski’s near the harbour we all decided to be a bit more adventurist and went in to the main ocean. The waves where really big so we felt as though we were getting thrown in the air by the waves.

:-)
It was so much fun! After about 30 minutes on the water, we swapped places on the ski’s and I was the driver. Really it was breath taking, driving around on the main ocean was pure freedom.  In total we were out for 1 hour, then we made our way back, another spectacular experience which I will never forgot.

On the way back to get a taxi we walked though the fish market. It was a strange feeling, the whole place was just watching us walking by. However, it was very interestin seeing the fish.

Fish Market (photo by Gina Scott)
We then split into two groups and got taxi's back to the hotel. We all got showered and went out again to the ‘Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’ and that was something else!

The Grand Mosque (photo by Gina Scott)
When we got there we had to wear the traditional burkha.  It was really interesting to have the opportunity to wear the outfit.
 In Burkha: Gina Scott, Abby Bushnell, Hannah McDonald

Our Principal Dancer Jiří Bubeníček with Gina Scott and Abby Bushnell
We went on the tour through the Mosque and we got to see where the people pray.

Prayers (photo by Gina Scott)
The interior of the mosque was unique, the detail on the inside the walls, ceiling and the floors was extraordinary. Walking outside was so beautiful and a calming atmosphere, it made me feel very calm.

 Amazing carpet in the Mosque (photo by Gina Scott)
Chandelier in the Mosque (photo by Gina Scott)
After spending around 1 hour we headed back to the hotel for something to eat.  For dinner we sat outside at the restaurants looking at the amazing views of Abu Dhabi. By the time we had dinner it was starting to get a bit late, we paid the bill and went to our rooms to pack all our belongings.  After I had packed  and ensured I had not left anything behind, I checked out. I still had approximately 30 minute to wait before leaving, so I sat outside in the nice heat for the last time. At 9.00pm we all made sure our suits cases were on the coach and we said good bye to the Intercontinental Hotel and made our way to the Abu Dhabi Terminal 1 airport. Once we had checked in and got through customs, everyone did their own thing.  Some decided to look around the shops for other things they wanted to buy, others sat at the cafes.  Our flight left Abu Dhabi 12.30am and some people just slept as we were all so tired. About one hour before arriving into Frankfurt we had breakfast which was pancakes, they were really yummy. At Frankfurt we were split into two groups, one group were able to get the next flight within 30 minutes of arriving and the other group had to wait 4 hours. But it wasn’t too bad we just slept at the airport. We had a 1 hour flight from Frankfurt to Dresden, it was the strangest feeling arriving at Dresden, getting out of the plane was weird, as we had just come from hot stuffy air and now it is cold which was a bit of a shock.  But we have to come back to reality! My trip to Abu Dhabi really was such an incredibly experience, I have really learnt a lot from it. Spending quality time with the company members, enjoying the beauty of Abu Dhabi and culture, performing in a wonderful theater. There have been so many wonderful experiences during this tour and it is memories that will stay with me forever knowing that I went on tour with the Semperoper Ballett.
Last photo taken in Abu Dhabi (by Gina Scott)



Day 3: The Second Show


31th March 2012 
by Gina Scott, dancer of Semperoper Ballett

Gina Scott











This morning a few of us took a nice relaxing swim in the pool, it was so relaxing and what was so amazing was the view, it is hard to believe it is on the roof of the Hotel.
At the swimming pool at 9:00am
We stayed at the pool for approximately 45 minutes.
Abby Bushnell and Gina Scott
Amazing view from the roof (photo by Gina Scott)
Some people got the 10.00am bus and others got the 10.30am to the Emirates Palace for class at 11.00am. Having class on the stage is really fun, even though it can feel a little stuffy.

Gina and the Emirates Palace
After class some of the company had rehearsals for Coppelia. Others got to have a nice long break before the show tonight. A group us took a taxi from the Emirates Palace to a market which was called the 'Souk'. It such a wonderful experience to be there and see everything.

Before the "Souk" :Boris Richir, Seraphine Detscher, Sang-Eun Lee, Anisa Sinteral-Scott, Abby Bushnell, Gina Scott, Marianne Bassing
The Souk (photo by Gina Scott)
Shops in the "Souk" (photo by Gina Scott)

Mosque in the City (photo by Gina Scott)
The people in the shops made every attempt to sell us their shop products even if you didn't want them. What I enjoyed was you could offer a price for items you were interested in as long as you weren't being unreasonable, this was so much fun. We all got lots of amazing things for ourselves and gifts for our family and friends as memories from Abu Dhabi. After spending around 3 hours looking around we went back to the Hotel and sat at the pool to relax before the show. At 6pm a group of us got the bus back to the Emirates Palace for our make up and hair to be done and had our warm up. The show stared at 8.00pm, we were all happy, excited and felt a little stressful at times, but it is our job to be professional and cope with it.


My costume of Shade 
After the Kingdom of Shades: Alice Mariani, Virna Toppi, Elena Diéguez, Susanna Santoro, Gina Scott, Chiara Scarrone, Zarina Stahnke  
After the show the company said good bye and got a bus from Emirates Palace to a lovely Italian restaurant for a company meal.
Yummy pudding in the Italian restaurant (photo by Gina Scott)
It was so nice for the company members to be together with everyone, we had a great time.  It was very late by the time we got back to the Hotel which was around 4.00am but truly it was definitely a night to remember for everyone and one that we will all have fantastic memories of.
Gina Scott and Charlie Peters after the dinner