The Marina Alta is full of art in its different areas and forms. And it is in the region where an opportunity has recently been born for dance lovers. Making a name for yourself in professional ballet is not easy, and even less so without stage experience. This is the aim of the Jove Ballet de La Marina, to provide its young cast with experience from a very early age.
The project was born with Laura Perelló, a dancer from Dénia, teacher at the Gata de Gorgos Dance School and artistic director of the Jove Ballet. With the support of the Gata City Council and various parents of her students, introduced the JBM to the world in April 2024Vanessa Soler, mother of one of the students, is the president of the association established a few months ago to provide structure and management to the proposal.
"Many students had to go abroad to continue their studies," explains Laura. The Jove Ballet aims to fill the gap that is created in a dancer's career from their municipal dance school until they access higher education in larger conservatories, usually located in large cities.
«We are not an extension of the schools, nor are we a competition for them, but a company, with the aim of putting on shows and giving young talents the opportunity», says the director. The idea of Jove Ballet was born independently of the schools and town councils, free of charge for the dancers and it is open to anyone who feels the need to replenish that experience and confidence on stage. «The headquarters are in Gata de Gorgos, but the project is open to the entire territory of the Marina and beyond. We have dancers from Riba-roja, Valencia, Alicante, Dénia, Els Poblets, Xaló and Pedreguer, among other towns».
«We would like schools to see Jove Ballet as an opportunity for their students, not as an alternative, but as an additional training experience.» The JBM was formed after a large audition with 60 candidates and an external jury. Carla G., Ainhoa, Diego, Maddalena, Neus S., Alba, María R., Saida, Carla M., Carla S., Azahar, Martina, María S., Celia, María A., Berta, Emma, Julia, Olga, María T. and Neus F. are the 21 artists, aged between 12 and 18, who bring the first batch of dancers to life. «As well as technique, we are looking for dancers with a special stage presence, that thing called duende. People who capture attention on stage, as that makes the staging easier,» says Laura.
Through the instruction of Maeva Perelló, dancer and sister of the director, every Saturday morning the artists meet in the multipurpose building in Gata for classes and rehearsals. “As a company, each dancer has their assigned roles.” Laura and Maeva are in charge of creating the pieces of the show, coordinating and organizing them.
The presentation of the first official show was last December, at the Teulada Moraira Auditorium. They filled the room and the spectators were able to enjoy various pieces of classical, neoclassical and contemporary dance, "showing an evolution between the styles. In addition, we had the participation of the Riba-roja Dance Conservatory."
The director and the president of the JBM association are very proud of the initial dance troupe: “They are very versatile, very excited and also committed to the project. They don’t miss a single rehearsal and they organise their schedule to be able to attend above all else. This shows the enthusiasm and unity they have built. They are a great team.”
The JBM's aim is to maintain the group for two years and then call for auditions again to continue offering opportunities. However, they also consider that it is a good time to expand the team, "now that we have consolidated the structure as an association and we see that the project is working. The success and the good reception it has had allows us to expand the dance corps, because we want to do bigger productions," says Laura.
As they illustrate, the JBM is a kind of bridge company, with the aim of giving visibility and offering future opportunities, "because when a dancer is part of it, he or she has more options of being detected by professionals and receiving offers to continue his or her career." But as with every initiative that opens its wings for the first time, there are some obstacles, or rather, needs to be met. One of the biggest challenges for the regional dance company is the search for sponsors and collaborators who believe in the project and help them, above all, with the economic issues.
"We have a number of expenses that, due to the fact that the event is free for dancers, are more difficult to cover. Rental of rooms for the galas, technical and sound equipment, costumes, travel, as well as communication and visibility." The first sponsors already have a two-year contract, but they hope to be able to gradually increase their support.
The fact that the company is established as an association also allows them to apply for grants and subsidies from both the autonomous and national levels. “These are not strictly economic, but rather allow us to be part of a circuit of shows and auditions, giving us visibility and opportunities to perform,” Vanessa stresses.
For now, the director and president have told us that we will be able to see the Jove Ballet de La Marina very soon. It will be in Dénia, with a show for the International Dance Day. “There will be pieces from the presentation gala, but we are also preparing new choreographies with which to surprise.”
