Ballet in the Cane Fields (Ballet en los Cañaverales) by Judith Ravin

Ballet in the Cane Fields (Ballet en los Cañaverales) by Judith Ravin
Santo Domingo, Friday, May 24, 2014

The book Ballet in the Cane Fields: Vignettes from a Dominican Wanderlogue, a new bilingual collection of cultural vignettes written by Diplomat Judith Ravin, was released during a ceremony that took place at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM).

As part of the event’s program, Minou Tavárez Mirabal said a few words, followed by an energetic performance by the Metamorphosis Crew, a hip hop choreography by young Eduard Leonardo Ferreiras, and the keynote speech by writer Judith Ravin.

Ballet in the cane fields takes the reader to today’s Dominican Republic – the “loudest place on earth” – where nothing is insignificant enough to be the subject that starts a conversation. Written in English with Spanish translation by Ana E. (Nani) Martínez, the book is a cultural study and poignant memoir, a literary work from the heart.

The vignettes illustrate the daily lives of the Dominican people and highlight the struggles they still have to overcome. The autobiographical series reflects the optimism and generosity of a resilient people, and of all mankind.

Former Press Attaché of the Embassy of the United States to the Dominican Republic from 2010 to 2013, Judith Ravin lived the world largely, occupying positions as a Diplomat, Journalist, Translator and Editor. Her work and passion for travel have taken her to Argentina, Burkina Faso, Japan, Mexico, Cameroon, Sudan, the Dominican Republic, and Pakistan.

Her travels, which have taken her to serve many unique and vibrant societies, have allowed Ravin to acquire something only a few others can: to be a genuine and first-hand witness of the manifestations of other cultures.