Latest news with #Pascual
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Emotional edge
Sahel Flora Pascual's dance career has taken her all over the world: Ballet Manila, the School of American Ballet in New York City, Ballet Austin in Texas and, for the upcoming 2025/26 season, London City Ballet. In April, it brought her to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Pascual, 22, is a choreographic fellow in the Pathways to Performance Choreographic Program at MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet), which links ballet companies to Black choreographers and those of colour so they can engage in a meaningful way. Ryan-Rogocki photo Choreographer Sahel Pascual leads Aspirants students through her new piece. Pascual was commissioned by the RWB to choreograph an original work for the students in the Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program in the Professional Division at the RWB School. The piece will be performed as part of On the Edge, the Aspirants' mixed-rep showcase this week. Pascual participated in the inaugural MoBBallet Symposium in Philadelphia in 2019 as a dancer. Lately, though, she's been considering ways she could contribute to her art form as a choreographer. 'I've always seen choreography as a way, not only to create my own artistic vision and exercise my own authorship of my voice and my idea of what art can do, but as also a way to facilitate growth within the artistic community, whether that's through creating more holistic dance spaces for mental health or for diversity's sake,' she says from London, England, via Zoom. The as-yet-untitled work she created on the Aspirants was inspired by the barrier-breaking American-born French dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker. It's a dialogue, she says, between Baker's legacy and her own experience, informed by her African American, Jamaican and Filipino heritage. 'My choreography draws from my own positionality as an expatriate artist and emerges as a physical meditation on displacement, trauma, discrimination and the reverberations of the colonial gaze,' she writes in her choreographer's note. 'What was really important to me was the piece itself is not a re-creation of her in any way, but it is a meditation on the things that were important to her, the parts of her that were significant, through the shared language of human emotion,' she says. Working in the studio with the Aspirants in the spring was 'truly just a beautiful experience.' 'They're young dancers, they're dancers of a lot of different backgrounds, and they want to engage. Something that was just lovely was that each one of those dancers wanted to engage with this work,' Pascual says. 'And it's difficult, because one would say, 'How can a group of dancers that does not have African American or Black heritage work within this framework that centres a Black woman?' And my response to that was,' Yes, it is about a Black woman, but each one of us, through whatever part of our life, can empathize in certain ways with her rebellion, with her love of not only people but of animals, of community, with her fieriness, with her desire to change things, with her desire to care and to break down barriers.'' Founded in 2015 by consultant, educator, advocate and former ballet dancer Theresa Ruth Howard, MoBBallet is an archive that preserves, presents and promotes Black ballet history. The RWB joined MoBBallet's Cultural Competency and Equity Coalition (C2EC), a membership-based organization that will see peers work collaboratively to become anti-racist, in 2022, and has previously commissioned works by MoBBallet Pathways fellows Meredith Rainey and Portia Adams. That commitment stands in contrast to what's happening south of the border, where many organizations are rolling back anti-racist and DEI initiatives. 'It's important for us to keep this relationship, because I have worked very hard on building that trust so when we bring choreographers in — it's a little bit cliché — but it's a safe place to be,' says Tara Birtwhistle, the RWB's associate artistic director. The fact that Pascual is working with the next generation of dancers on the precipice of their careers in the Aspirant Program is also significant. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'We talk a lot about changing the culture of ballet, and we can't just talk about it anymore. We have to do something about it, and really, to lean in to these young people who have so much to teach us and guide us through a different lens,' Birtwhistle says. Pascual would agree. 'Why it's important that these kinds of stories that choreographers like myself are being engaged with is because we are the art that is current. We are the people who are dancing. It is the population that we are dancing for,' she says. 'If you think about ballet's audience now, there are many conversations about how it's diminishing, and although that in some ways is true, I think what we've seen from the dance world and the art world as a whole is an understanding that the audience must be broadened, and that the art that is being encountered, that is being created, must reflect the world as a whole.' Jen ZorattiColumnist Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen. Every piece of reporting Jen produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Daily Tribune
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Gulf Diplomacy Key to Progress in US-Iran Negotiations, Says Pascual
TDT | Manama 'Understanding and Navigating the World (Dis)Order' was more than just the title of Carlos Pascual's keynote speech at the Middle East Petroleum & Gas Conference (MPGC) at the Four Seasons Hotel, it was a candid call to prepare for a new era shaped by global fractures, economic volatility, and energy insecurity. Pascual, Senior Vice President for Geopolitics and International Affairs at S&P Global, Cuban-American diplomat and the former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Ukraine, addressed an elite gathering of energy leaders, policy-makers, and strategists, laying out a stark but pragmatic vision of a world in flux, one where energy dynamics and geopolitical fault lines are no longer separate conversations, but deeply intertwined. From the Gulf to Ukraine In a series of engaging sideline discussions and his keynote address, Pascual stressed that energy markets cannot be viewed in isolation from global geopolitics. He warned of eroding U.S. credibility and the weakening of long-standing international alliances, citing this trend as a key force behind growing global polarization. The world, he said, is now increasingly shaped by transactional diplomacy and short-term victories rather than enduring multilateral solutions. On the ongoing conflict in Gaza and heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, Pascual pointed to the growing unpredictability and the need for long-term strategic thinking, warning that any solution rooted only in short-term gains would likely fail to produce lasting peace. Addressing the war in Ukraine, Pascual — who previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine — was blunt: 'There's no viable peace on the horizon.' He criticized the tendency to rush negotiations without first addressing fundamental concerns like security guarantees and post-war reconstruction. Strategic Patience Amid Shifting Alliances Turning his gaze back to the Gulf, Pascual explored the role of Saudi Arabia in shaping regional stability. While there are signs of economic optimism and diplomacy, he questioned whether these can evolve into lasting peace frameworks. On the Iran–U.S. nuclear negotiations, Pascual remained cautiously skeptical. "Nobody wants war — not Iran, not the U.S., not the Gulf countries. But a quick deal is unlikely," he said. He emphasized that the Gulf states' involvement and their willingness to engage Iran could shape the eventual outcome.
Khaleej Times
06-04-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's new variable parking fees: Some residential buildings offer cheaper options for motorists
Parking offered at some residential buildings in Dubai has become a viable option for some motorists following the increase in public parking fees brought about by the introduction of premium parking rates. Some residential buildings – particularly in densely populated areas of Al Barsha, Karama, and Deira – have been offering parking for motorists long before Parkin PJSC (the largest operator of paid public parking facilities in Dubai) introduced variable parking fees on April 4 and increased the tariff during peak hours. Khaleej Times checked and found parking at residential buildings still costs Dh5 per hour. There are also daily, weekly, and monthly rates. Meanwhile, the tariff for on-street parking operated by Parkin has increased in places categorised as premium parking areas. From Dh2 or Dh4 (depending on the parking zone code), it is now Dh6 per hour during peak hours, which are from 8am to 10am (2 hours) and 4pm to 8pm (4 hours) – excluding Sundays and public holidays. Parking fees during off-peak hours – from 10am to 4pm; and 8pm to 10pm – remain unchanged. Densely populated areas, including those adjacent to or near public transport infrastructure have been categorised as premium parking spots. The zones are clearly marked with dedicated signage and tariff details on display. Zones A, B, C, and D designated as premium parking have now become AP, BP, CP, and DP. The implementation of new variable parking fees translates to higher parking fees during peak hours in these premium parking areas. This also means additional expense for motorists. Most residential buildings offer at least one free parking spot per unit. The problem is for those living in shared accommodation or families with more than one car – as they have to find the most economical way to park their vehicles. Filipino expat Alfredo Pascual who lives in Al Barsha said he recently subscribed for monthly parking at the building next to where he lives. 'There is no more parking space available in our building. Thankfully, the building next to us offers parking for Dh250 per month,' he told Khaleej Times. 'Rates vary,' he added, 'I saw one building offering as low as Dh200 monthly but that's around 300m from where I live. So I chose the Dh250 instead.' Leave your key The only concern for Pascual is that there is no secured spot for parking. That means, if he comes home late, he has to settle for the farthest parking space or the one next to the wall or beam post, where it would be very tight to manoeuvre his car. 'Some of these residential buildings advertise offering valet parking. But don't mistake it for the same service you would get from a hotel when you leave your car. It's actually a euphemism that you have to leave your key. In most instances, you have to give your car key to the watchman — who doubles as parking attendant — as he has to move your car when it is double parked,' added M. Rangsant, a Thai expat, who lives in the same area in Al Barsha. Parking spaces in residential buildings are usually reserved for tenants but there are some enterprising operators who maximise the space by converting the driveway into a parking area, Khaleej Times has learnt. 'But it is still cheaper to park in a residential building rather than on the street. Residential building parking is also at least shaded,' said Rangsant, noting: 'If you park your car even for just two hours during peak hours, that would cost you Dh12 daily or Dh72 weekly, and about Dh300 monthly. 'The only problem is that parking spots are limited and with the increase in public parking fees, there would be a greater demand. I just hope the residential parking operators would not consider increasing their weekly or monthly subscription,' she added. Better option Meanwhile, some motorists have opted for a better option to minimise their expenses by applying for a season parking pass, which they can use at different parking zones across Dubai. The price of which has remained unchanged following the introduction of variable parking fees. Speaking to Khaleej Times over the weekend, Syrian expat Faris AbuNael said: 'Now, with peak-hour charges going up to Dh6 per hour, I'm looking at spending an extra Dh12 to Dh16 a day for parking. Switching to a Dh500 monthly parking subscription that covers Zones A, B, C, and D makes more financial sense. It allows me to park anywhere in these zones, including near my home, and overall, I'll save at least Dh250 a month,' he added. The season pass is available from Parkin and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority websites and mobile apps.
