Spain's Blanca Li: Choreographer, woman of all trades, dreamer

Maria Alexandrova, principal dancer of Russia's Bolshoi Ballet. [Photo/Agencies]

'Parity does not exist'

In Goddesses and Demonesses, which debuted in Paris a little over a year ago, Li and Maria Alexandrova, the 38-year-old principal dancer at Russia's Bolshoi Ballet, bring to life the feminine archetypes of Greek mythology, from mothers to femmes fatales, at a time when Li says women's rights are eroding.

"We women made great strides, and then it is as if everything came to a halt," said Li, who is married to French film producer Etienne Li. They have two children.

"I wanted to talk about how beautiful it is to be a woman" these days, said Li.

She started by studying flamenco, joined the Spanish national rhythmic gymnastics team, and at age 17 came to New York to study modern dance under Martha Graham.

Then she discovered hip-hop, electronic music, and found inspiration in classical ballet. And ever since, she has been mixing them all.

"We live in societies in which women are still not respected the way they should be. Women are still very limited professionally and artistically," Li complained.

"In France or Spain, parity does not exist. In most things men dominate, and it is not that women are dumber."

Li said she finds it stunning that most major choreographers are men.

She said that, for instance, over the course of her 20-year career Alexandrova had never worked with a female choreographer, until now in this show, with Li.

"In France, almost all dance studios are run by men. It is incredible, a country where it was almost always women who led the world of dance. And it is sort of like they have gotten rid of all of them."