126 replies to this topic

[Farrell Fan]

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 11:14 PM, said:

Her appearance surely garnered a lot of new ballet fans.

Really?

[vipa]

sealings, on Jul 10 2009, 07:44 PM, said:

here's the whole thing in hq.

She was charming & beautiful.  What a good thing for ballet; I wish it would happen more often.

[Old Fashioned]

Farrell Fan, on Jul 10 2009, 06:08 PM, said:

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 11:14 PM, said:

Her appearance surely garnered a lot of new ballet fans.

Really?

Maybe not new ballet fans, but maybe a few Veronika fans.

[cubanmiamiboy]

This is the third time I start to re-write this, having erased the other two way-too-long posts.  I'm trying to define why was I so non satisfied with the show...
A lot of things can be said back and forth , but I came out with a better idea: KEY WORDS...
So, forgive me if I'm not explicit enough, but I'l try to do my best.  Here I go...
High vs. low standards, language barrier, little on-air time, cultural issue, profits, average public concept, Swan Lake/drama/betrayal/jump/mat/suicide/giggling/, ABT-money, Letterman-money, Part-money, plans, productions, actresses, Maryl Streep, Sophie's Choice, giggling?!?!, giggling, Paris Hilton, beautiful, runaway nameless models, public education, Lorena Feijoo, Giselle,  TV show, charm, high vs. low standards-(yes, again), cultural issue, films, numbers, today, silly comedies, millions, quality cinema, non existent, giggling, Harry Potter, ballet, spiritual, grand, mistery, ballet mocking, vulgar, sick and tired...
and then, I could be on and on and on...but better not...
I don't mean to go against nobody's opinion in particular...I just think it was my time to ask to "agree to disagree"

[Farrell Fan]

Old Fashioned, on Jul 11 2009, 01:19 AM, said:

Farrell Fan, on Jul 10 2009, 06:08 PM, said:

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 11:14 PM, said:

Her appearance surely garnered a lot of new ballet fans.

Really?

Maybe not new ballet fans, but maybe a few Veronika fans.

I agree; I'm one.

[DeborahB]

Farrell Fan, on Jul 10 2009, 08:08 PM, said:

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 11:14 PM, said:

Her appearance surely garnered a lot of new ballet fans.

Really?

This is my last post about this subject; I've posted far too much about this subject already. However, the opportunity for a  ballerina to be on  national tv is a huge deal, period. Believe me -- I know how hard it is to get people --even famous people -- on national media, and particularly national tv (as this is what I do for a living).
What's not to like? Even if just one more person became interested in ballet after this interview (and Dave did show those gorgeous photos of Veronika), that's enough.

And I repeat: Veronika Part was utterly charming with Dave. She made the best of the few minutes she got (since she's a "no-name" guest except to ballet fans, she would never have gotten more than a few minutes. The fact that she was booked at all was a small miracle.  Daniel Radcliffe, on the other hand, is a huge movie star. He would get more minutes, and would always be a first guest. It's probably even written into his contract.  That's tv. That's advertising -- adverters will pay more for "big" name guests.).

End of explanation.
Kudos again to Veronika Part, ABT, David Letterman and his staff for booking this lovely ballerina.

[cubanmiamiboy]

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

since she's a "no-name"

That is totally circumstantial, and it basically belongs to the "to who" concept.  I know MANY people for which Plato is a "no-name".

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

The fact that she was booked at all was a small miracle.

Umm...after being booked at the Mariinsky, where CERTAINLY NOT EVERYBODY GOES, a TV show definitely looks smaller to me.  It's an honor, and a truly shame if the happening of it is considered a miracle.(Not to you, Deborah, but to whoever brings the much needed money for Letterman and even Part to survive and live)

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

Daniel Radcliffe, on the other hand, is a huge movie star.

Again, circumstancial...again, to some...certainly not to me, and I think I might not be alone...

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

That's TV. That's advertising -- advertisers will pay more for "big" name guests.

I know, I know...definitely agree on this 100 %.  In other words, "IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL"

DeborahB, on Jul 10 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

End of explanation.

Same here. Peace out !  

[Dale]

Christian, I can understand your side and DeborahB's. As the EW blog entry alluded to, there was a time when "high" and "low" arts mixed often and easily. Ashton appeared on the Dick Cavett Show, Alonso and other ballet dancers appeared on The Bell Telephone Hour and two American kids Eddie and Patty performed Balanchine on The Ed Sullivan Show. Even in the 60s and 70s, defectors had novelty and Balanchine's beauties graced the pages of Vogue and Bazaar.

Those days are long, long gone in the United States, unfortunately (although we do sometimes get a ballet dancer in fashion mags). In Russia, ballet is regularly shown on TV. Major premieres at the Mariinsky and Bolshoi and in France at POB are highlighted on news shows. Even in England, Darcey Bussell became a crossover star, regularly appearing on popular talk shows. Here -- we're lucky to get a ballet shown on PBS once every two years and maybe a dancer on Charlie Rose occasionally. I wish it was different. Maybe shows like SYTYCD and Dancing with the Stars will bring dance back to the popular forum.

Mostly due to the passion of Mendez and the respect he is held by his boss, a ballet dancer appeared on a popular late night talk show in 2009. It probably helped that it was summer time, too.

[PeggyR]

I went over the the Letterman show website to see if I could find Part's interview and found this:

Thursday, July 9
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Veronika Part / Levon Helm (American Ballet Theatre) / (CD, "Electric Dirt")

As a singer, Levon Helm is one of my favorites, but as a ballet dancer...

[DeborahB]

Cristian,
I'm explaining national tv, which I do know.  Veronika Part is a no-name to these demographics (and especially to the advertisers). And Plato wouldn't get booked on national tv either (at least not easily. That is very sad too, but it is what it is). You wouldn't believe how many worthy artists don't have a prayer of getting on national tv (especially late night tv). Hollywood celebs are the rule here; second are major musical groups. This is just a fact. Daniel Radcliffe IS a huge star. That's not circumstantial either, but how it is (although honestly, I'm not a Harry Potter fan, even though I did the PR on one or two  of the Harry Potter books for Jo's publisher. I also  haven't seen one of the movies. But young Mr. Radcliffe did a terrific job in "Equus" which I happend to see in London).
Perhaps you don't watch national tv much (and I don't blame you for this. So much of it is less-than-great) so you don't know who is usually on.
I'm not criticizing Ms. Part; I think she's wonderful. It's just the reality of national media. And again -- kudos to Dave and his producers for having her on.
I admire your passion (and I actually share it); I think it would be wonderful if artists of all kinds were featured on national media more regularly -- but that's just not the case (again, b/c of ad dollars).

Finally, national media exposure for ABT, NYCB or any ballet company IS a blessing (national tv numbers alone are in the milliions)..

[Marga]

bart, on Jul 10 2009, 04:44 PM, said:

Question for Letterman watchers:  does he behave this way often with young women or guests from fields outside his comfort zone? or is it something Part herself seems to have brought out in him?

Dave Letterman is a big kisser of the lady's hand, bart. He does it all the time. Likewise does he show his admiration for all beautiful female guests.

[Marga]

pj, on Jul 10 2009, 07:36 PM, said:

That said, everyone else must have watched DL before, because you all gave him more credit for his behavior toward his guests than I can.  I think he was boring and NOT funny and it seems to me he showed up for work and was just putting in his time.  My observation was that he couldn't have cared less about his guests......So no shooting, please ....

Not shooting, just saying. Letterman never just puts in the time. What you saw as negative behaviour is his perpetual behaviour and why he is such a successful late-night host. Consider the hour the show airs. It's for a laid back time of day, many watch the show in bed, and Letterman often acts like a kid, reflecting everyone's need to relax and unwind.

If you should chance to see him when his guests are politicians or representing serious issues or world problems, he becomes a very serious interviewer, only tossing in jibes if appropriate to ease tension. I respect him for his knowledge of so many things (we're the same age, he's just 2 months older than I am) in areas in which I am sorely lacking, such as American politics, the current wars, sports, and big social issues. Either he is already knowledgeable or he does his homework very well.

He cares very much about his guests and is able to elicit good conversation from the majority of them. His kind of funny is an acquired taste. It took me awhile. My husband tuned into the show for a few years before I began to like it.

Letterman could have done much worse with Veronika. He showed respect for her throughout. Since you've never seen the show before, I do understand your reaction.

[cubanmiamiboy]

Oh, I know,  I know...and I do apologize, Deborah if I sounded too harsh...(and this is WITH my own language limitations...you should see me arguing in Spanish!!   ).
Again, I do recognize that a step has been made.  I came to the US in 2001, and this is the first time I see a ballerina on national TV.  Agree with the hope that this might open some other doors.
You were right.  I do not watch TV...I don't even own a TV.  I watch my ballet on my laptop, so I also want to thank BT for giving the hint on Miss Part appearance.  I went over my mum's to see it.   Frustration comes at the knowledge that Veronika Part, one of the most exquisite current exponents of one of the most beautiful art expressions in history gets way less coverage than Paris Hilton or Tara Reid...
BTW, thanks Tony-(Mendez)-for initiating all this.  Your exquisite sister-(RIP Miss Josefina Mendez)-must be smiling up there...good job!  

[Jack Reed]

Having now seen the whole interview, I thought the best was at the end, appropriately enough, when the two of them got up and did a few moves together, and we -- and I think, anyone still reasonably observant, given the late hour when the show is broadcast -- could see the contrast between the ways they moved.  As DeborahB has been telling us (thanks for the behind-the-scenes glimpses), this is all thought out to some extent in advance,  and I thought these last moments were the ones which showed the audience something of what is distinctive about ballet:  The disciplined and graceful stylization of the movement.  And so I also was a little disappointed that Part did not complete the second pose she started to make.

The movement in the performance clip, nicely repeated after the end of the interview, is on another level altogether; I enjoyed that glimpse myself, and I'm glad the large, presumably unfamiliar audience saw it.  Twice.  In case they didn't believe it the first time!  But to see her get up out of her chair and start to move that special way provided a link to and a contrast with everyday movement.

[Buddy]

Well, I just had the distinct pleasure of watching the first several minutes (all I could get) on low speed internet, two seconds at a time (ten seconds in between). This is devotion!

I haven't had a chance to read the latest comments here, but to me, she is coming across so far as being Absolutely Charming and Glamorous. Her responses are minimal, but seem very much aware. The initial video clip, a picture and  David Letterman, who is doing most of the talking, have already given several very good reasons, beyond what you seen on the show, to explain exactly what  a special person Veronika Part is. It doesn't really seem necessary at all for her to say much more.

She seems very likable (I would say 'Lovable'), alive and believable. I think that she is doing beautifully and look forward to seeing the rest within a few day when my high speed is supposed to be connected.