Idoia Lecumberri

Hello Idoia, where are you from? and where do you live?

I was born in San Sebastian, Spain. I have been living in different places such as Vitoria, Barcelona, New York and Italy. And finally I return to our city, San Sebastian,to always continue in the company of my beautiful family.

What did you study? And what have you done professionally thoughout your life?

First I studied Ballet at Sarasua-Brown Academy located at the San Sebastian Conservatory. Then I went to the Barcelona Theater Institute, where I continued studying dance. After that, with a scholarship, I had the opportunity to study at the Martha Graham School in New York combining it with dance lessons in The Jose Limon School and The Merce Cunningham School. I was lucky enough to participate in groups of British and American dancers, we created an independent group called “The Sinisters Slapsticks” with which we performed in many places, one of them was called “The Gas Station”, a very trendy place in the 80’s that it was located in downtown where the cool people of the city met.

After graduating in the Martha Graham School in 1989, I went back home and led a local group that was already running before, ”Los Katatonix”, with whom we performed few times.

Sometime later I returned to Barcelona where I finished my Art History degree, at the Theater Institute, and got the chance to dance for the Ballet company directed by Juan Carlos Garcia, “The Imperial Anonymous”, with which we won an important prize in Zagrev. We toured all over Europe.

When I was between Barcelona and New York I created with Mercedes Boronat a choreography entitled “Jauchzet Gott in allen landen”, title of the piece by J. S. Bach, with which we won the second prize of the Tortola Valencia Choreographic Competition of the Generalitat Catalana.

What is your job right now?

I dedicate myself to my little dance school of great little dancers placed in NikaBio. I have been ten years with this proyect and we try to dance with rigor, discipline and fun. I love it.

Do you have family?

I have the best family you can have. My husband and I are very attached through thick and thin, whatever happens. La vita e bella, but continuously test us. We have three beautiful kids with whom we laugh a lot together.

Who influenced your career as a dancer? And who has always supported you?

My father who was an enthusiast of life took me to the Plaza Constitucion, in San Sebastian, at the time of the 70’s, to see the traditional basque dances that took place every Sunday. So I learned looking and copying the fandangos and Ariñariñ. And from there, I joined the basque dance group Goizaldi, where I learned from one of the great and elegant dance masters Mr. Gordejuela. At the same time I was taking lessons with the Peter Brown’s Ballet and later on I danced with the Argia Group. In conclusion, my life has always been dancing.

You are a strong woman with a great personality, did that help you to get your goals?

How good that you see me a strong woman dear Sofia. I am not sure about being strong, what I am is persevering and, in my way, disciplined. I really like to go in an improvised way, be creative and imaginative.

I wanted to tell you that my family always supported me, but they insisted a lot that I studied a high degree, that is why I graduated in Art History in Barcelona. What I have learned most at the University is to dive into the topics that interest me, it has helped me focus and learn to say what I want emphatically. Once the five year career in Barcelona were over I could then take a breath and do what my feet asked, which was to dance. Ballet, dance and everything related to it has really been my LeitMotif of my life.

Do you have more goals?

My goal is continue teaching my little dancers with rigor, passion and fun. Every kid needs their own attention. Each body is a world but not only the physical conditions of each student but the psychic ones. And today’s young people want quick results and they have a hard time disciplining themselves. That is my job, excite them so that they are very motivated to not give up. That requires a great deal of dedication on my part. That is what I do, I give myself absolutely and from there sometimes I get great results but it is not easy. More goals? Keep teaching until I cannot. I have no idea about stopping, I hope I had eternal health for it!

It is known that being a dancer requires many physical and psychic sacrifices. Did it affect you? Did you ever feel like giving up?

I have never give up because thank to God I always could do what I wanted. I have always been very happy and so today placing myself on a ballet barre makes me indeed extremely happy.

You have your own style when it comes to dressing, you have a feminine and original style. Do you think that feeling beautiful is important to succeed in life? In what other ways do you like to take care of yourself?

Dressing is something that everyone likes, there is no doubt that being fixed makes you feel safe with yourself. I love fashion and clothes with original touches, but in a way it is true that people fall into slavery. Nowadays the way to take care of myself is very simple, what is essencial for me and my family is to buy all organic products from my husband's shop, NikaBio. I also like to cook, always fresh, homemade and healthy. And above all I take care of myself dancing, what I like the most.