Leda Mazzei Fernandes

Leda had her training in classical ballet at the Escola Municipal de Bailados de Sao Paulo and in 1980 continued her professional training as a stage dancer at Jane Blaut in Sao Paulo before moving to Munich. She was guest and resident ballet teacher of several Companies in Germany including Stadttheater Pforzheim, Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz (Munich) and Tanzprojekt München. Leda has worked with the following choreographers Vasco Wellencamp, Luis Arieta, Fernando Bujones, Julio Lopes, Victor Navarro, Ana Mondini, Carlinhos de Moraes, Ady Ador, Tindaro Silvano and Sonia Motta. Leda is founder of Dance Made, a company that manages, mediates and represents choreographers and dance companies. Gauthier Dance in Stuttgart, Cross Connection Ballet in Copenhagen, David Middendorp Dance Company in Holland, Cisne Negro Dance Company in Brazil and Companhia Portuguesa de Bailados Contemporaneos in Lissabon were some of Dance Made’s clients.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

When I was 3 years old I saw a tutu and made my father and mother crazy because I wanted to wear it and have a photo, my father did the photo from me and this “wonderful” green tutu, 6 years later I started to take ballet classes and dance became my life. Somehow my soul already knew!

Favorite Things to eat?

I really don’t like to cook , I never cook anything that takes longer than 20 minutes and that dirty more than two pots so my favourite meal is the breakfast.

Favorite Books?

so many…. but since years now , I read quite lots of spiritual books, books about psychology and biographies and in the last few years I also fell very interested inbooks about physic. In away my books choices aims to try to learn about theuniverse, the people and myself.

Favorite Movies?

many but I can highlight : “Cinema Paradiso”, this is an italian film from 1988 and”The reader”, “Rama Dama” a german film from 1991 and “Hugo Cabret”. All of them are about people that for a moment a special /bigger talent or feeling touched their life but the courage to follow it is always a personal decision.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

Romeo and Juliet from Kenneth MacMillian ( danced by Alessandra Ferri andJulio Bocca, they make my soul fly….)

I like dancers who…

are open and see dance as a constant developing, we are never ready art/ dance is an endless search and so is life.

I am afraid of…

stop to learn and stop develop myself as a person

A dance piece should…

hit the soul and open the minds of the audiences.

Something you like to do other your current job?

have more time to find simplicity!

One of the happiest moments in your life?

to only list one is quite difficult because which phase in life encompasses “happiest moments”? Every time you inspire a young person to discover and see a bit further is a very happy moment. Being a mother and see my daughter growing and developing is always a very happy moment To discover subtle connections in life which makes me become a better person is always a very happy moment. To realise that my relationship with my husband is very special and happy since 21 years is a great present.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

to have got an airplane from Brazil to Europe without speaking any other language that wasn’t portuguese, having only 2000,00 dollars on my pocket, my ballet shoes and lots of dreams

One of the most embarrassing moments in your professional career?

in a premiere a bit before the break, I thought I made my last entrance and so went to change my costume for after the break, I walked back stage and looked at the stage and start to wonder how nice looked this bit on the piece…. that I never saw it before….. crash! I had a blackout and in reality forgot to be on the stage exact on this bit that I never saw before….

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why’

I think this answer has to be divided in phases. At 1st my mother and father, they really believed
[in] my talent and made what was possible for me to become a dancer. Second, Jane Blaut, a great brazilian teacher, who for sure today is teaching ballet to the angels in heaven. Thirrd many dancers and choreographers which I met along my life. Fourth my husband who always supports me and my daughter who teaches me everyday something new about life and myself. And all the people [who] crossed my life, independent if these crossed though with a good or a bad experience, with all of them I could learn….

One of the hardest things about your job?

as a teacher to be aware of every artist as individual and as a dance agent, to keep very stubborn to be able to close a tour or to close a choreographer mediation