Now, don't look at me like that, you perverts.

I've just been to my first ballet class since I've come to Berkeley.

I went to Berkeley BalletTheater at College and Parker.

Now that I think back, I have nooo idea why I never took classes during the school year.
Ballet has become my miracle once again.

I'm going to be in so much pain tomorrow morning, you'll think I died or got hit by one of those ridiculous AC Transit buses because I won't be able to get out of bed to crawl the two feet to my desk and computer.

Hah! AND I'm going again to class tomorrow. But this time, I'm putting on those shoes that all ballet students come to call little torture chambers for the feet: pointe shoes.

So I thought of the following in the shower while trying to squeeze the most out of my "Cool Cucumber and Green Tea Scented Dove Body Wash." [You should try it]:

Ballet brings the most out of me. Its the one thing I can do without thinking about anything else and the one thing that I actually, truly love to do. Its not just about the pretty costumes or the gorgeous but gay men, its about the fact that I have this lasting relationship with something so powerful and so captivating to the eyes, the soul, the body, the mind...

Its a passion.

I guess we went on a 'break' this past year, but now I'm giving it a chance again, and we're using this opportunity to love one another again. :)

Ballet will heal more than just my ailing back or knees. It will fill that ballet-shaped void I've had in my heart (as corny as that sounds) for the past year. I was just too distracted trying to blindly stuff things shaped mysteriously like Smirnoff bottles or a new dress...

I'm so... satisfied. Finally.

It feels like I've been holding my breath for a million years and I've just now let it out.

I can do this.

I'm aching all over but I can't wait to step into that studio again tomorrow.

Sorry for the double posts in (technically) one day. I just couldn't wait to write this down. I'm sure there's so much more I could say, but I'm still pretty overwhelmed. Maybe I'll add to it later, when I catch my breath. :)

• Part I (Hitchcock analysis) = 2½ pages = 35 points
• Part II (Bourne analysis) = 1 page = 15 points

In both parts I am grading for thoughtful analysis. What technical details do you observe in these artworks, and why are those details important?

Here are links to previous posts on this essay:

• Larry's advice about part I (Hitchcock)
• Some strategies for writing part I
• How to craft part I as an argument
• Notes on part II (Bourne)

Here is the most important piece of advice I can give for this part of essay 4: plot isn't everything. Indeed, plot is hardly anything.

Yes, you should resolve some basic questions for yourself: has the prince been driven mad by depression? Has the prince been delusional from the start—is the entire ballet, or at least Act II, a hallucination? Does the swan manifest itself as a human in Act III or does the prince hallucinate him? And what is the intrigue between the press secretary and the girlfriend?

But whatever you do don't devote more than a short paragraph to the plot: I will fail any essay that argues as its central point that the conclusion is appropriate because the mass of swans reject cross-species love. What does that conclusion have to do with the rest of the ballet? How does the ballet lead inevitably to such an absurd end?

Instead, think about the conclusion of the ballet in terms of symbol, gesture, composition, and meaning.

• What symbols appear in the finale, and what do those symbols mean? What do the swans represent? What does the lead swan represent? What do the bed and bedroom represent? The crown on the headboard? The window? The child?
• What gestures at the conclusion echo gestures from earlier in the ballet? What do those gestures represent or suggest?
• How does Bourne compose the corps in the finale, and what compositions from earlier in the ballet does he echo? Why is he connecting those particular scenes together?

If you've watched the ballet carefully and analyzed these elements thoughtfully, you should begin to see patterns—especially mirrors of characters, gestures, and compositions. These patterns should begin to suggest a psychological or philosophical idea that lies behind Bourne's Swan Lake. You should name this idea in your introduction and explore it in your conclusion.

When booking the appointment, I informed them there would be an outfit change.  The girl on the phone was surprised and impressed to hear Hannah Rose has been doing both Karate and Ballet.

The pics we ordered are due in 1 August.  We got some individual shots in sepia as well as a couple of larger prints with multiple images.

In addition to our pics, we get small images electronically...probably to entice us (or friends and family) to buy more pics!

The Imperial Ice Stars present

Cinderella on Ice

Their world tour of this performance began this month in New Zealand, they will be visiting Australia and the UK, if you get the chance to see this spectacular show – take it!

A fantastic performance richly laced with innovation and style, this ballet on ice was packed with grace, poise and action!

A team of 23 world class championship ice skaters showcased their talents on a surface only a quarter of the size of a professional rink, amongst beautiful scenery and adorned with lavish costumes. The Imperial Ice Stars are world famous for their innovative skating and unique style of storytelling.

This performance of a classic story with a vibrant flair shows Cinderella as a prima ballerina who wins the heart of the Mayor’s son. Despite the frequent sabotage by her stepmother and stepsisters, the Watchmakers and Gypsy Fortuneteller ensure that true love shall prevail.

The costumes were each a work of art in themselves, intricately designed and thoroughly effective. These were complemented by stylish set design with both a traditional and contemporary feel and brought to life by special effects that enhanced the magical story.

Suitable for adults and children over 6 years, it is captivating family entertainment.

Find out about other shows from The Imperial Ice Stars or see the schedule for their world tour.

Above: the golden idol solo from the ballet, La Bayadère

Plotinus uses almost the same examples in that place where, paraphrasing Hermes Trismegistus, he says that the ancient priests or Magi used to capture in statues and material sacrifices something divine and wonderful. He holds, moreover, with Hermes Trismegistus that through these materials they did not, properly speaking, capture divinities wholly separate from matter but deities who are merely cosmic... Hermes himself put together statues from herbs, trees, stones, and spices, which had within themselves, as he says, a natural force of divinity. He added songs resembling the heavenly bodies; he says the divinities take delight in such songs and so stay a longer time in the statues and help people or harm them.

-Marsilio Ficino, De vita coelitus comparanda

Compare Bourne's 1995 choreography to the 1895 setting by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, here performed by the Bolshoi (which, in 1877, premiered Julius Reisinger's choreography in the very first performance of Lake of the Swans):

If you have some free time tonight, you might want to read the New Yorker's profile of Matthew Bourne, Swans' Way by Joan Acocella.

Things have been very busy at Northern Ballet Theatre since our last update. The Company is currently rehearsing hard for...

Click here to read more

The search is on for an artist to create an artwork especially for our new building.

An exciting part of the plans for NBT's capital project is the commissioning of a piece or pieces of Public Art to be incorporated within the building. The commission forms part of Leeds City Councils ambitious Public Art plans and, along with the exhibition space, extends even further what the new building will have to offer the communities of Leeds and the north of England.

There is a broad brief for the Public Art commission, it could be anything and use any medium, other than water. There are three potential locations identified by the design team for the public art: the entrance area, the glazing to the south façade, and the projecting balconies to the south façade.

Leeds City Council has started the procurement process and an artist should be appointed in October. For artists wishing to enter the procurement process the deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm on Monday 11 August, visit:

http://scms.alito.co.uk to sign up.

Enquiries about the tender website/process to Julie Brennen, Procurement Unit, email julie.brennen@leeds.gov.uk tel: 0113 24 74088

For more information on the planned building, and to find out how to help us realise it visit

www.building-momentum.co.uk

Con *B e con Nelly (Nelly e` un'amica di *B di 55 (?) anni, deliziosa, molto gentile e generosa, non abbiente, purtroppo costretta dalla malattia a stare sempre in casa, che ha una gatta di nome Fifi che in passato e` stata maltrattata (le hanno bruciato la coda e adesso ne rimane solo un mozzicone)), andremo a vedere il Bolshoi Ballet in "Spartacus".

Il Bolshoi sara` qui ad Amsterdam per 4 giorni: Vrijdag 25 Juli - 20:00 uur, Zaterdag 26 - 14:00 uur, Vrijdag 1 Augustus- 20:00 uur, Zaterdag 2 Augustus- 14:00 uur.

Ad ospitarlo sara` il famoso teatro Carre (si legge Carre`) di Amsterdam

I prezzi sono un po' alti (21, 51, 76, 100, 111, 136, 150 euro) ma e` un'occasione raramente ripetibile, dato che il Bolshoi tornera` ad Amsterdam tra 11 anni.

Noi abbiamo quelli da 111 euro...e regalero` cowe regalo di Natale anticipato il biglietto a Nelly, dato che ci teneva tanto a vederlo...

I was missing Michigan somethin' awful.

The Saturday I had to fly out, the shuttle had to pick me up at 12:45pm, which was in the middle of the girls' performances, so I actually didn't get to say bye to ANY of "my girls" (they know who they are!). I was really sad about this. I got attached to a few of them and had a hard time leaving without getting to even say a proper goodbye! So, I'm going to do it here!

To my fellow floor counselor Cari: I hope your wedding this weekend is beautiful and you have a wonderful time. I spent 2 weeks preparing for my wedding and we only had 12 people in attendance and our wedding reception was at a restaurant and if I had to do it all over again....I'd do it exactly the same way! We spent our money on our honeymoon. NOT on the wedding. I even bought my wedding dress at Banana Republic!! I think it was even on sale for $35.00. I believe my shoes cost more than the dress. What was important was that I was marrying Royce. Nothing else. I am sorry I didn't get to give you a hug bye! Thanks for running to Taco Bell for me and getting me a HARD SHELL TACO. Even though, for the record, I NEVER eat at Taco Bell in Texas.

Kendall: You are so much fun. I hope your bunions are feeling better now that they've had some rest. I really would have never believed an 18 yr old could have bunions that looked like Royce's Granny's feet, but you've proven me wrong! I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you bye. You are amazing. Stay focused. Do what you need to do for your feet and take care of yourself. You are going to go professional! Don't get distracted from your goals!! You are at the age where you will either make it or you will become distracted and get off track. I want to see your name in lights!! Congrats on getting 1st runner up for the scholarship. I know you wanted first place, but you gave it your all and I was so proud of you for doing the fouttes (did I spell that right??) on pointe!! Maybe "that other girl" won't come next year and you'll be there in her place!! :)

Elena: I hope you enjoy the coffee mug or saved it to give to your Mother. That would be the clever thing to do! Thank you for ironing my dress and doing all the other incidental things I asked you to do for me! You were a huge help! I hope you work hard this year and have a great time dancing!

And lastly - to Aquabear!!!!! (AKA Courtney)

I can't tell you how sorry I am that I didn't get to tell you bye and give you a big "bear hug"!! Just so you know - I actually stood at your dorm room door and took my favorite photo of you and Kendall off your door. I was going to bring it home with me, scan it in and post it to the blog. But then I felt bad about stealing it and so I didn't and now I'm sad because I don't have any photos of you two and I miss you! You were so much fun and made camp such a joy! You really brought such a joyful spirit with you to the dorm and I don't care what anyone says - if you want to believe in aquabears, more power to you! Thank you for vacuuming the hallway, unnecessarily. Thank you for always being willing to help with whatever. Thank you for always obeying all the rules that we felt necessary to enforce at whatever given moment and thank you for not telling on us for breaking the rules that we felt like breaking at whatever given moment. You rock Aquabear!! I love you bunches and the ONLY reason I will consider coming back next year is because I want to hang out with you again! (Oh and Tina, Dina and Charlie, too. Naturally!) I was so so so sad that I didn't get to tell you bye. But I DID get to see you in your dress rehearsal and it was so beautiful!

Enjoy the aquabears I bought you. They are "12 of a Kind". HAHAHAHA!

Stop by often and leave me lots of comments!! It'll be like camp never ended. You can also leave your email address when you leave a comment and I will email you privately and then you will be able to email me whenever you want!!

I totally want to fly to Michigan this winter and see you all perform in The Nutcracker! Wouldn't that be so cool if I could do it!?!?! You never know! Keep me posted!!!

Lots of love girls! I miss you all so much and am looking forward to next year!

Rating:

Defying her father's wishes and narrowly escaping the clutches of the man who wishes to marry her, Harriet sneaks off to join the ballet on their journey to the Amazon. There, in the wild, lush jungle, they perform Swan Lake in grand opera houses for the wealthy and culture-deprived rubber barons, and Harriet meets Rom Verney, the handsome and mysterious British exile who owns the most ornate opera house.

Utterly enchanted by both the exotic surroundings and by Rom's affections, Harriet is swept away by her new life, completely unaware that her father and would-be finacé have begun to track her down. . . .

Commentary: This is what I call a Wish-Fulfillment Novel. Our heroine goes through a great struggle, she's valiant, she's humble, she's likeable and we want her to win! And in the end, she does, and everything works out just great. She has a happy ending. All the right things happen in all the right places. There's a lot of "coincidences"... but the kind of coincidences that just work out perfectly. Gives you a nice, warm feeling after you finish. With this kind of thing, it's very easy to slip into stuff that's too cliche, where the heroine becomes too good, and the happy ending is too happy. Sort of like a campy romance novel.

However, Ibbotson did a good job of not falling into that trap. I read a lot of Ibbotson's work when I was younger, namely Which Witch? and Island of the Aunts and all those other good childhood classics. When I first this picked this up I thought it was something she'd written more recently for young adults, especially since the cover looked so new and modern. But in fact she wrote it all the way back in the stone age of 1985--which was long before I was born. She's still got stuff coming out though, which is nice. I get so depressed when authors I like die and inevitably stop writing because they're... dead (Madeleine L'Engle is a good example).

Back to the book. It was good. Entertaining. Not too sugary. In fact, it woke in me an interest in ballet--I've never seen a real production, and I'm determined to catch the next performance of Swan Lake that my city's ballet company puts on. Ibbotson seems to have done her research well.

Youthful, romantic, interesting... good read.

Morihiro Ivata, Japanese-born dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow

The Japanese-born ballet star, Morihiro Ivata, is the first full-time foreign dancer in the history of the Bolshoi ballet company. After 18 years in Russia, he sees the country as his home, and, this summer, Moscow audiences saw his début as a choreographer. By the time he joined the Bolshoi company 12 years ago, Morihiro Ivata graduated from the Moscow School of Choreography and the choreography department of the Russian Theatrical Academy, and he danced lead parts with the Russian Ballet Theatre. Born in Yokohama, Morihiro Ivata is now well-rooted in Moscow, where he made his career and has a family, his wife Olga, also a ballet dancer, and two daughters. His compatriots see him as very-Russified, something all his friends in Moscow fully agree with, saying that he has soaked up the Russian mentality.

Indeed, in an exclusive interview with Voice of Russia, Morihiro Ivata reflected, in the first place, on Russia, Russian culture, and Russian ballet. “Classical ballet is one of the most valuable treasures of Russian culture. Russian classical ballet differs from other national ballets by its strong tradition, which was inspired by the masters and is passed from generation to generation. This masterful art makes people happy. Ballet in Russia receives substantial support from the state, and this is a great advantage because classical ballet needs a lot of investment for further development and is doomed to die without financial backing from the government. The Russian authorities are fully aware of that, that’s why Russian ballet art is flourishing and is popular all over the world”. 

Morihiro Ivata has good reason to regard himself as Japanese with Russian cultural roots. His parents learned from Moscow teachers at the Pyotr Chaikovsky Ballet School in Tokyo. His father, mother, and sister went on to set up their own school of ballet, a family business, and young Morihiro learned dancing using Russian methods at an early age. He is now using this method to teach a ballet school at the Japanese Embassy in Moscow. One of his students entered the Moscow Academy of Choreography and the most gifted graduated from the Academy and is dancing with the Moskva Ballet. Who knows, they might choose to follow in their teacher’s footsteps and settle in Russia. 

Morihiro Ivata enjoys huge popularity on Russian Internet blogs, where he is often the hit of the discussions. Morihiro has fans far and wide, from Moscow to Perm in the Urals, where he won the Grand-Prix of the all-Russian (!) Competition of Ballet Dancers 16 years ago and choreographed the ballet Virtual Lady last spring. At a Moscow gala that closed this season, he débuted as a choreographer of ballets in the Japanese tradition. There can be no doubt then that high art does obliterate borders. 

23 July 2008

Olga Bugrova

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29991&cid=62&p=22.07.2008 (in English)

My little family of three just returned from our summer vacation. Aside from a short trip to the Big Apple in 2006, my husband and I have not indulged in a true holiday for several years now, instead spending time off visiting with family. Now that we have an infant son, vacations come with additional challenges (and rewards), so for our first attempt we chose somewhat familiar territory and a family-friendly destination - Massachusetts. We began and ended our trip in the city of Boston, with an excursion to The Berkshires in the middle. One of my favorite spots to visit while touring the quaint yet artistic villages of western Massachusetts is Jacob's Pillow. Home to America's oldest dance festival (in continuous operation), "The Pillow" was founded by modern dance pioneer, Ted Shawn, and is a landmark in dance history.

The summer festival hosts dance companies from around the world with performances on three stages, including the Inside/Out stage which offers free, often excerpted performances in a more relaxed (and picturesque) atmosphere - perfect for families with small children or those on a budget. Their community program offer classes to the general public, but dance artists or students can also apply for their school program for the summer, plus internships are available in the fall/winter too. Here is the jacobspillow.org contact page if you would like more information or directions.

From contemporary to ballet, Massachusetts has lots of dance going on. If you are nearby, planning a visit, or looking for educational opportunities allow me to offer a few links.

• Boston Ballet
• Earthdance Workshop & Retreat (Berkshires)
  
• Berkshire Ballet
• Northampton Center for the Arts (Western Mass)
  
• The Yard (Martha's Vineyard)
• Massachusetts Academy of Ballet (Southwestern Mass)
• Dancer Universe Directories (summer study, workshops, etc. can be searched by state, city, or zip)

For more Jacob's Pillow, you can visit their YouTube Channel. You can also dig a bit deeper with the book Barton Mumaw, Dancer: From Denishawn to Jacob's Pillow and Beyond, a memoir by one of Ted Shawn's male dancers, or How Beautiful Upon The Mountain: A History Of Jacob's Pillow, by Ted Shawn himself. Also, check out this video, The Men Who Danced: The Story of Ted Shawn's Men Dancers and the Birth of Jacob's Pillow 1933-1940 and this heartfelt article about Ted Shawn's connection to Springfield College.

Anyone loves dancing? lol... I know I do. Never thought that it was something that I would take such a liking to! I mean, I've done short dance stints all my life. I've done ballet as a kid, did Jazz, Lindy and Salsa as a teen. I was never good at any of them. I mean, I wasn't bad. I just wasn't great. I think its because I wasn't serious about dance then and lacked the dedication to become any good.

All of a sudden, I find myself thrust into the world of dance. I'm taking so many dance classes in a week that its crazy! lol... But I have to admit, I'm finding a whole new love. I wish I had done all this as a child. It would have been so much easier. Injury has made me inflexible and that in itself can be a problem. I'm still trying to work on my flexibility, but like all things, it takes time.

Pirouettes, ball change, shuffles, jazz walks, turns, spotting... terms that I've come to hear on a daily basis. Its funny how every dance form is so different and yet so related. Many techniques from one form gets used again in another. Problem is, when you have a problem with 1 technique, every dance suffers. For me, that problem is spotting. I know spotting is supposed to prevent dizziness when you turn. However, whipping my head around fast is what makes me completely dizzy. Maybe it just takes work... I used to be an excellent spotter in my ballet days. Goodness knows what happened. lol...

Lets hope that by the time I have to go for a dance audition, I will have gotten that right. In the meantime, I'm taking dance in my stride and enjoying it every step of the way. Even when I don't get it quite right!

this was basically a rehearsal of black swan with Jana Kurova... she is the one you hear in the background talking in czech and english to me! she is awesome!

Wii! Gotta love this action shot of Sadie playing Wii bowling. The kids have a periodic interest in playing Wii and, it turns out, Sadie is great at bowling!

Sadie: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you- the dancers!"

Dance recitals and parties involving dancing are a frequent occurrence at the Parent home. Here are some clips of our most recent show.

]]> http://dancingperfectlyfree.wordpress.com/?p=520 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:16:24 +0000 Evan http://dancingperfectlyfree.wordpress.com/?p=520

Image from Gallery 100, photographs of Antique Epigraphs by Paul Kolnik

While I was in Saratoga for NYCB's Gala at SPAC, I stopped by Gallery 100 to see Jerome Robbins Continuum, a display of photographs by Paul Kolnik that show New York City Ballet in Robbins' ballets. Kolnik has been photographing the company for over thirty years, so it was interesting to see side by side photographs of the same ballet danced by different dancers over time. The top photograph in the above image shows Antique Epigraphs in 1984, while the bottom photograph is from 2008. One of my favorites from the exhibit showed two photographs from The Cage, with the dancers in the same striking, signature pose from that ballet: Wendy Whelan and Sébastien Marcovici in 2006, and Patricia McBride and Bart Cook in 1980. It made me reflect on how a photograph can transcend time, and the beauty of capturing dance through the lens.

The owner of Gallery 100, Deborah Martin, has a blog about art and what's going on at the gallery. Check it out to read more about the exhibit and see several photographs of the gallery.

More to come as I continue to edit!

Kuranosuke Kamachi is the designer of DeLa*, whom with a lot of enthusiasm creates virtual shoes, clothing and accessories. Miss Kamachi started making virtual clothes about 4 months ago. When you look at the details of this dress its hard to believe.  Before then she was only designing shoes for our lovely pixel feet.

To learn more about her please go to her profile page... read more

This beautiful dress comes with a gorgeous head piece which is a black rose with long feathers, ballet shoes, short and long version of the skirt.  The whole combination stands so gracefully and it becomes a must have in your wardrobe.

Ohh! I love this dress in black but shhhhhhhhhhh! I heard that tomorrow's fashion show in Black Swan at 4pm SLT  the Crimson version will be released. I can't wait:)

You can find Kuranosuke Kamachi's Black Swan dress in Black Swan until 4th of August

I found out that he had decided to take up ballet dancing at the age of 35. He then had to train like any other dancer - from scratch - and made it to the top of the ladder dancing regularly on Broadway and beyond. I was so impressed. Now at 60, he looks half his age; supple and strong, obviously having sailed though the gruelling schedules of 8 performances a week back then without any problems.

I love people who have gone against the grain when it comes to career paths. He was an engineer up to the time when he decided dancing was what he 'really' wanted to do. But what a career to suddenly take up at the age of 35. I would have thought it impossible myself. But he is the obvious proof that it is not.

It is these kind of people whom I know will be an inspiration to Bubble. She sat spellbound for two hours, eyes fixed on the screen, asking every single question you could imagine and more about the ballet and our friend's role in it. When we got home, she watched it again (we borrowed the dvd on her request).

She now wants to see a live ballet and I will do some research into the schedule of dates showing in our nearest city. I also looked up the plot of the original Swan Lake online and found out that it is such a beautiful story!! I really want to read and compare it to the modern production with her, considering she is so intrigued by the story.

Sometimes, I am sad that my career didn't 'take off' like that. But then perhaps I did mine back to front - I mean the 'normal way'. I put myself on a path of study until I was 24 and then after qualifying, drifted through life with no direction whatsoever until I had children. Maybe it would have been better to drift for 24 years, trying out little bits of 'work' here and there and then deciding on the one thing I was passionate about after that.

Even then, I think it is wonderful not to have 'a career', I tend to be passionate nowadays about many things I try. I think I would have wanted to do them all given the chance earlier in life. In hindsight, I wouldn't have wanted to waste time on gaining a top qualification in just one thing. Life is too short for that. But that is what is expected of us when we are at school. We are asked to specialize at such a young age. Why shouldn't we wait until 35 to choose?

I don't think that Bubble is going to want to be a ballet dancer, but she has already performed in a Modern Jazz show (in June) and loved it. I think she will most probably just want to dip in and out of that world if she so desire, taking a leaf from our inspirational friend. I think that she will be happy to move onto something else whenever she feels she needs to, she may even be inspired to follow his example and settle into a vocation herself later on in life or perhaps even stay contented with dabbling in a multitude of things she enjoys for the rest of her 'career' like me. She has the choice.

That's sounds like the perfect way to learn to me.

The exhibits when we were there included a historical view of "Footwear through the Ages".  It showed shoes from all over the world that were worn throughout time.  My favorite exhibit, however, was "On Pointe: The Rise of the Ballet Shoe".  In the display area a ballet was showing which added to the collection.  I am in love with ballet and danced in high school and my first year of college - just amateur but I loved it.  Seeing the pointe shoes made me want to dance again.  They also had pieces of the shoes to show how they are manufactured.

The experience was definitely worth $12 for an adult ticket.  For any one who loves shoes this is a must see!