Close X
Sunday, October 6, 2024
ADVT 
National

Lucila Munaretto, Argentinian Ballerina, In Coma After Roller-Skating Accident In Vancouver

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Aug, 2015 12:15 PM
    VANCOUVER — Supporters are hoping for a miraculous recovery after an Argentinian ballerina whose dramatic style earned her a scholarship to a dance school in Vancouver suffered a devastating head injury.
     
    RCMP say Lucila Munaretto, 21, missed a stop sign and struck a vehicle on Thursday while roller-skating on a road in North Vancouver.
     
    Pacific Dance Arts artistic director Yaming Li said the dancer had injured her foot prior to the accident and was on her way to visit a friend.
     
    Li said he noticed the shy young dancer at a school in Brazil three years ago and offered her a scholarship that brought her to Vancouver in the fall of 2012.
     
    "She does not come from an affluent family in Brazil but I did see her talent so I wanted her to continue," he said Monday. "I thought if she came to Canada she might have some potential."
     
    Li said Munaretto's family had moved to Brazil from Argentina 10 years ago.
     
    Earlier this summer, Munaretto was invited to a six-week ballet program in Toronto and earlier played the role of Gretel in a production of "Hansel and Gretel" in Regina.
     
    "She's a very dramatic and beautiful actor on stage," he said.
     
    "She had such a good opportunity and almost made it to her dreams. We want to make all our efforts to see her recover as much as possible."
     
    Li said he asked about 20 dancers to record encouraging messages for Munaretto and that he put them on a CD that was played by her bedside.
     
     
    "We had messages from Europe, many of them from Brazil, and also from local Canadians."
     
    Li said Munaretto was seen moving her hand and foot in response to the voices and music played from a production of "Cinderella," her most recent performance, and from Chopin, from a previous show.
     
    "Last night, doctors were very, very impressed with the improvement. They were shocked."
     
    The school has started a Go Fund Me campaign to pay for her rehabilitation, he said.
     
    "It's a really long journey and I feel really, really sad. I'm just hoping for miracles though I feel she is not going to be fully recovered, dancer-wise."
     
    Laura Lopez, a volunteer who helps foreign students at the dance school with housing arrangements and visa applications, said Munaretto's mother arrived from Brazil on Sunday night and has been telling the dancer stories from her childhood.
     
    "This morning she was improving a lot. She's exceeding expectations, considering her injuries." 

    MORE National ARTICLES

    22-Year-Old Man Arrested After Lewd Act At National War Memorial

    Officers say bystanders saw the man climb the statue and begin the lewd activity late Sunday night. A 22-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

    22-Year-Old Man Arrested After Lewd Act At National War Memorial

    Air Canada Bans Shipments Of Hunting Trophies After Killing Of Cecil The Lion

    Air Canada Bans Shipments Of Hunting Trophies After Killing Of Cecil The Lion
    TORONTO — Air Canada says it will no longer transport big-game hunting trophies after the killing of Cecil the lion drew international attention.

    Air Canada Bans Shipments Of Hunting Trophies After Killing Of Cecil The Lion

    Vancouver Teen, North Vancouver Man Die Of Suspected Fentanly Overdoses

    VANCOUVER — Police say fentanyl is suspected in the overdose deaths of two people in the Vancouver area over the long weekend.

    Vancouver Teen, North Vancouver Man Die Of Suspected Fentanly Overdoses

    Tornado Touches Down In Southwestern Ontario Village Amid Severe Weekend Storms

    Tornado Touches Down In Southwestern Ontario Village Amid Severe Weekend Storms
    Environment Canada issued a statement that said the violent winds of up to 220 kilometres per hour occurred in Teviotdale, northwest of Kitchener.

    Tornado Touches Down In Southwestern Ontario Village Amid Severe Weekend Storms

    Stephen Harper Urges Canada To Stay The Course, While Trudeau Urges Opposite

    Stephen Harper Urges Canada To Stay The Course, While Trudeau Urges Opposite
    LAVAL, Que. — One day after Stephen Harper crashed a Liberal stronghold in Montreal, Justin Trudeau returned the favour Monday, rallying supporters in the heart of Conservative country and taking aim at the government's economic record.

    Stephen Harper Urges Canada To Stay The Course, While Trudeau Urges Opposite

    Montreal Cabbie Arrested On Assault Charge After Allegedly Driving At Two Men

    Montreal Cabbie Arrested On Assault Charge After Allegedly Driving At Two Men
    A Montreal cabbie who allegedly hit two people on purpose with his vehicle has been arrested and is facing a charge of assault with a weapon.

    Montreal Cabbie Arrested On Assault Charge After Allegedly Driving At Two Men