Turning pointe!

Asked to describe herself in one word and pat comes the reply.

"A professional! That is the core of what I am. I have been in this field for more than 30 years," says Brazilian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Elizabeth-Sophie Mazzella di Bosco Balsa.

One of the things that the Ambassador looked forward to when she came to assume her duties in January, 2016, is to explore the local dance domain. She had seen some Sri Lankan dance items on video and at the opening of the CHOGM 2013.

"I am especially interested in folkloric dance," she says.

Five years in Bern and Berlin, Germany, which she dubs as the 'Economic Power House of Europe', has kindled her passion for the arts. The capital which holds four orchestras and three ballets was a paradise for the lady who has danced ballet for 16 years. Her next stop, Russia, further enhanced her passion.

Enchanting perfection

"I fell in love with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. The Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil is one of my personal projects. It was the only Bolshoi Ballet School outside of Russia during my time and was incepted in 2000. Teachers from the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia trained the dancers and it follows the same methods as the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia. Today the school has more than 500 students," she said.

What enchants her about ballet is its perfection. She says that ballet gives a child a sense of beauty and discipline.

"The music is enchanting and the emotions you undergo while dancing are beautiful. You carry this balance throughout your life. It is not only physical stability but it is spiritual balance as well. This carries you through every movement and decision you make. Some find it in ballet like me while some find it in yoga. Ballet is sublime for me. It takes 10 to 15 years of very hard work to excel as a ballet dancer. I took part in a few projects as a child and adolescent but then my professional life took over. However, I always carry the discipline, posture and the love for music and the arts that ballet instilled in me," she said.

With the defender she has bought from the Netherlands

Mazzella di Bosco Balsa has danced in 'Swan Lake' as a child. She adores the ballets 'Swan Lake' and 'La Bayadère' and the music of 'The Nutcracker'. She is also the founding sponsor of the Dance Festival in Berlin.

She notes that she entered her diplomatic career when she was very young.

Economist cum diplomat

"I finished my secondary studies in Geneva. I was 15 then. I was the youngest student to enter the university at that time. I took up Political Economics. Later, I did my Master's in Monetary Economics at the Institute of International Higher Studies. During vacation times I worked for the Rothschild Bank. I flew to New York after completing my degree and was employed at the Trade Development Bank," she recalled the roots of her career.

She says that she chose a profession in banking over joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because she was captivated by the vibrancy of New York. "I felt compelled to bring my expertise home to Brazil after a stint. By then I knew that I wanted to work in International Relations. I had the passion to learn about people and their cultures. I sat for the exam for the Diplomatic Academy. I ranked 12 out of around 40, 000 applicants. That was the turning point in my career," she reflected with a smile adding that her first stop was in Korea as Head of Missions.

She served Hong Kong and Singapore next. All these cities, she notes, were booming. The experience of seeing the three nations lifting themselves from post independence enhanced her economic knowledge.

Though she has come a long way in her path as an Ambassador to Brazil, she says that she still carries the 'economist' in herself.

Zeal for visual arts

"I have geared my career towards economic and development issues. I went to Norway to study Energy Management. Sustainability - renewable energy potential - captured my attention. I studied Environmental Management," she said adding that she believes that economics, energy and environment makes a great trio of expertise. It has helped her to reach the top in a multi-ladder of fields.

She has taken part in the Sustainable Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro and took over as Head of the Department of Management of the Sea, Antarctic and Outer Space Affairs. This gave her the opportunity to travel more and to take part in environmental conferences dealing with climate change and pollution.

Her travels fostered her zeal for visual arts. She is a collector and had visited many museums and art galleries across the world.

"I have already been to two art shows in Sri Lanka. I have bought some paintings and wish to build a collection of contemporary Sri Lankan art. I want my residence in Colombo to be a showcase of Sri Lankan art which will be open to the public," she mused.

Her love for art comes from her mother, Gosette,who hails from France and is an art critic and curator. Her sister, Veronica, has trained in USA as an astronaut and is a jet pilot. Her brother is an IT Manager in France.

Describing herself as a 'woman with many passions' Mazzella di Bosco Balsa says that she has engaged in designing too. She and her sister even had their own retail brand, 'Sofie di Bosco'. Her flair for the field was aroused on a trip to Bolivia and Peru where she encountered weaving and dying techniques.

Dynamic aura

"Sri Lanka is a dream come true in this sector. I witnessed the work of some of the local designers at the Colombo Fashion Week. They show a lot of promise. I hope to foster cooperation with the São Paulo Fashion Week and the Rio di Janeiro Fashion Week. We have a market up to a hundred million people. Brazilian women love fashion," she said adding that her own style is extremely classical.

She says that what struck her most about Colombo is its dynamic aura and vibrancy.

With her pet dog, Pushka

"I was happily surprised about the feeling of hope that is visible here. Sri Lankans share. This is a practice they share with Brazilians. If you visit Brazil you would note that Brazilians too like to share their country with you. Colombo greeted me and my family wholeheartedly with open arms. I am very happy to be here," she beamed.

She also loves the diversity of curries that she has tasted on her arrival to Sri Lanka. Coconut sambol is one of her favourites. She says that she can have hoppers for breakfast everyday!

"I have decided to write a cook book on the similarities between Sri Lankan and Brazilian cuisine. We too use a lot of coconut products in Brazil for our cooking. The seafood, vegetables and fruits we use too are similar. I cook Brazilian and French food during my free time. These two cuisines are poles apart because Brazilian food includes a lot of coconut based ingredients while French food is totally butter and cream!" she quipped adding that she wishes to visit the rural areas in Sri Lanka to witness how people grind spices. "She Lanka is blessed with fertile land. Everything grows in your country. Hardly anything grows in Russia except potatoes and cabbages. It is too cold. You don't know how lucky you are," she exclaimed. She has been visiting temples, churches and mosques in Colombo during her free time.

"Colombo has such a diversity in religious architecture. We have baroque churches in Brazil. I feel very at ease in a temple," she said. "I never look back at the past asking myself 'if'. I look at the present and the future. I carry with me all the deeds that I have cultivated in the past.

"I am happy and grateful for where I am," she concluded with a smile.