Monthly Archives: April 2011

Girl, you is looking sturdy tonight!

Posted on April 29, 2011 by

What I like about this picture: (Violetta Elvin as Odette in Lé Lac Des Cygnes) (from Ballet Portraits, by Maurice Seymore, copyright 1952 Pelligrini and Cudahy) Those hips! Can I get an amen? Strong legs Fishnet stockings. See, they’re not … Continue reading →

Posted in Books!, OMG outfits you guys!, the Body | 15 Comments

Sturdiness. It has it’s benefits.

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

He said yes! Marched up after the reverénce and asked Smirnoff if I may join the pointe class, and he said yes! And his assistant said, “I’m sure you can do pointe as well as any other.” Gentle Reader, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Schooled, whuuuut? | Tagged , , , , , | 32 Comments

Are we still talking about Black Swan?

Posted on April 25, 2011 by

Good. ’cause here’s another thing. Actors do not want to wear clothing. Let alone costumes with any level of difficulty. Costumes confuse them, restrict them, and are often the first thing identified as a problem when everything else starts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bark! Bark! Bark!, Movies and live stuff, OMG outfits you guys! | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Adult beginner quandaries

Posted on April 23, 2011 by

So, we’re doing grande battements at the barre: standing leg strong, body strong, no swinging, working leg sweeps up and Hold! then down, close fifth. Then sweep up, Hold down, close fifth. Eight times to the front, then side, then … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballerina Class, and other pointy stuff, Getting Schooled | Tagged , , | 35 Comments

Two conversations with Menfolk

Posted on April 22, 2011 by

Chatting with a coworker over some handsewing the other day. He took ballet in college, even some pointe, so he’s my go-to work ballet chat person. Told him about the rough class I had the other day. With the correction … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Schooled, Philosophizing, Technologic | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Most ephemeral

Posted on April 21, 2011 by

Listening to the radio the other day. NPR, duh. And they’re talking about this exhibit coming up at MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary Museum called Art In The Streets, which is “a landmark retrospective” of street art and graffiti and it sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophizing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A moment of Deep Despair

Posted on April 20, 2011 by

Had a moment of deep despair in class last night. Deep, it felt like that sound they’ve been using in movies a lot lately to represent time slowing, a heavy heavy bass that sinks downward to even more bass and … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Schooled | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Who’s a good girl? Is it you? Is it you!

Posted on April 19, 2011 by

When I was a kid, my parents enrolled me in soccer. For several reasons, including 1) convenience: my brother was in soccer, so, you know, only one car trip, and 2) prevention: they were worried that I would be fat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bark! Bark! Bark!, Philosophizing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Talk to the Hand

Posted on April 17, 2011 by

Let’s all get in the Way-Back machine and visit one of my very first ballet classes, ever, with Sazerac, who was waging an epic battle to get me to follow my arm movement with my gaze and not be just … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Schooled, Technologic | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

What it is.

Posted on April 12, 2011 by

Last week: one class with a perfectly balance pirouette, one class with the wobbling. Which was fine. Didn’t expect a pirouette that second class. Allergy meds, you know. Tomorrow: Could pretend to be all yoga about it and say ballet … Continue reading →

Posted in Bark! Bark! Bark! | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments