SPAIN: FEMALE MATADORS LEARN BULLFIGHTING скачать в хорошем качестве

SPAIN: FEMALE MATADORS LEARN BULLFIGHTING

(30 Jul 1995) Spanish/Nat Spain's national "fiesta" - bullfighting - has traditionally been the sole preserve of men. The dramatic duel between matador and bull is often seen as the ultimate show of courage - and a symbol of virility. But with the advent of sexual equality a growing number of women have chosen bullfighting as a career. Against all odds, and despite fierce opposition from their male colleagues, Spain's "senoritas" are succeeding in fighting their way into the bullring. SUGGESTED VOICE OVER: Moving in for the kill - the final sword in the back of a bull's neck is crucial - for the matador too. It's the barometer which measures the matador's skill and precision. The "fiesta nacional" (national feast) inspires young boys the length and breadth of Spain to dream about becoming bullfighters "when they grow up". At Madrid's "Bullfighting School" in the Casa de Campo, tomorrow's generation of matadors have to train five hours a day - five days a week - before they're ready to face a real bull. Around 200 youngsters - aged between 12 and 19 - enroll in the Madrid school every year. Out of this group five - at most - will last the course. Among them are Patricia, Nuria and Beatriz - three teenagers who are defying the macho conventions of bullfighting to try and make it in this deep-rooted bastion of male power - even if some of their fellow trainee matadors aren't entirely convinced. Teacher Carlos Neila, himself a matador, admits there are some obstacles which may prove harder for girls to overcome than others. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Es obvio que la fuerza fisica de una mujer no es la misma que la de un hombre y por eso ellas tienen que poner mas empeno en adquirir una fuerza que les permita hacer lo que los hombres, pero ellas tienen otras cosas que los hombres no tenemos." (Translation): "Well it's obvious that a woman's physical strength is not the same as a man's and that's why they have to be even more determined to acquire a level of strength which will enable them to do the same thing as men, but they have other pluses that men don't when it comes to bullfighting." SUPER CAPTION:Carlos Neila, Matador and teacher. Strength alone isn't everything when it comes to fighting bulls it seems. Grace and sensitivity also come into play and this is where the girls have the advantage. Nineteen year old Nuria Sanchez comes from a long line of bullfighters but she's the first girl in her family who's set on becoming a full-fledged "matador". After three years' training, she's ready for her first bullfight - not without a glittering new "traje de luces" (suit of lights) though! Nuria knows she'll be judged harshly by the critics - and not just because she's new to the bullring either. SOUNDBITE: "Por el hecho de ser mujer yo creo que te exigen mas que por el hecho de ser un chico, yo creo que la prueba esta en lo tipico, una chica tiene menos fuerza una chica es mas sensible, una chica tal no, pero esta claro que te van a exigir mas por el hecho de ser mujer e incluso si estas mal la bronca va a ser mayor segurament que la que le puedan echar a un chico." SUPER CAPTION: Nuria Sanchez, "Novillera" (female trainee bullfighter) Public opinion among Spain's bullfighting community - and audience - is slowly coming round to accepting that the "senoritas" of the bullring may be just as competent with "cape and sword" as the men. However, there is still some way to go before they're fully accepted in the tight-knit, macho business of bullfighting. SOUNDBITE:(Spanish) Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...