TED演讲：用舞蹈战胜癌症(1)

 　　This is an ode to the mother goddess, that most of us in India learn when we are children.  有一首关于印度神母的颂歌，是我们大部分的印度人从小就学习的。

　　I learned it when I was four at my mother's knee.  在我四岁的时候也学习了这首歌，坐在我母亲的膝头上。

　　That year she introduced me to dance, and thus began my tryst¹ with classical dance.  也正是那一年，她引导我进入舞蹈的殿堂，而这一开端正是我与印度古典舞幽会的伊始。

　　Since then -- it's been four decades now -- I've trained with the best in the field, performed across the globe, taught young and old alike, created, collaborated², choreographed³, and wove a rich tapestry⁴ of artistry, achievement and awards.  从那时开始，到现在已经40年了——我师从这一行最优秀的舞者，在世界各地演出，教导年轻的和年老的舞蹈爱好者创造、合作、编舞，我编织了一个绚丽的挂毯，用我的艺术、成就和奖章。

　　The crowning glory was in 2007, when I received this country's fourth highest civilian⁵ award, the Padma Shri, for my contribution to art. 2007年我获得了至高无上的荣誉，那一年我得到了印度授予公民的第四高荣誉，莲花奖（Padma Shri）作为我对艺术贡献的回报。

　　But nothing, nothing prepared me for what I was to hear on the first of July 2008.  但是任何事都不足以让我有心理准备，去面对我将要在2008年的7月1号得知的。

　　I heard the word "carcinoma." Yes, breast cancer.  我得知了一个词“恶性肿瘤”是的，乳腺癌。

　　As I sat dumbstruck in my doctor's office, I heard other words: "cancer," "stage," "grade."  我坐在医生的办公室里，呆若木鸡，我听到了另外一些词“癌症”，“期”，“恶性程度”。

　　Until then, Cancer was the zodiac sign of my friend, stage was what I performed on, and grades were what I got in school. 那时之前，癌（Cancer）是十二宫中的巨蟹座，是我朋友的星座，“期”（stage）是我表演的舞台，“恶性程度”（grade）是我在学校得到的成绩。

　　That day, I realized I had an unwelcome, uninvited, new life partner.  那一天，我意识到我有一个不受欢迎的，不请自来的，新终生伴侣。

　　As a dancer, I know the nine rasas or the navarasas: anger, valor⁶, disgust, humor and fear.  作为一个舞者，我知道九情操（印度古典舞蹈中通过肢体或表情表达不同情绪的方式）愤怒、勇敢、厌恶、诙谐与恐怖。

　　I thought I knew what fear was. That day, I learned what fear was. 我以为我知道什么是恐惧。那一天，我学会了什么是恐惧。

1 tryst   

n.约会；v.与…幽会

参考例句：

• It has been said that art is a tryst,for in the joy of it maker and beholder meet.有人说艺术是一种幽会，因为艺术家和欣赏者可在幽会的乐趣中相遇在一起。
• Poor Mr. Sanford didn't stand a chance of keeping his tryst secret.可怜的桑福德根本不可能会守住自己幽会的秘密。

2 collaborated   

合作( collaborate的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• We have collaborated on many projects over the years. 这些年来我们合作搞了许多项目。
• We have collaborated closely with the university on this project. 我们与大学在这个专案上紧密合作。

3 choreographed   

v.设计舞蹈动作( choreograph的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• There was some carefully choreographed flag-waving as the President drove by. 总统的车经过时，人们按精心编排的动作挥舞着旗帜。
• Achim had choreographed the dance in Act II himself. 阿希姆自己设计了第2幕的舞蹈动作。 来自辞典例句

4 tapestry   

n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面

参考例句：

• How about this artistic tapestry and this cloisonne vase?这件艺术挂毯和这个景泰蓝花瓶怎么样？
• The wall of my living room was hung with a tapestry.我的起居室的墙上挂着一块壁毯。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。