Bonnette

The box is well proportioned in relation to the logo, even though they are not aligned...the header looks very nice, indeed.

It's looking good, Helene, even with the header at its present size, and I haven't noticed any functional glitches. This has been a remarkably smooth transition - kudos! Edited to add: Looks like you've got the header adjusted now, and I see the small Amazon search box to the right of the logo.

Yes, before and immediately after the upgrade, the small Amazon search box was just to the right of the Ballet Talk/Ballet Alert logo; at some point, a very tall thin Amazon banner took its place, greatly expanding the blue field and pushing the logo to the bottom of the page. Now the vertical banner is gone, and I see just the Ballet Alert logo in its blue field (without any Amazon search box next to it). I don't see a long narrow banner ad with a text box at the bottom of the pages; what I see is the small search box (with space for text) which used to be at the top of the page.

I see the small Amazon search box at the bottom of every page, on both Safari and Firefox. The Ballet Alert header is back to normal size, without the Amazon search box which used to be situated next to the words, "Ballet Alert."

No, Helene, I just see the Ballet Alert header now; there is a small Amazon search box at the very bottom of the page.

Instead of the small Amazon search link, there is now a tall vertical Amazon banner that has pushed the forum header to the bottom of the screen - this has just happened in the last half-hour.

I love the name and look, and so far haven't experienced a single glitch...thank you!

Ah, wonderful! Thank you so much, what a treat.

Amy, I have a G4 PowerBook and use Safari as my browser without timestamp/new content issues...so I doubt Safari is the problem, in and of itself. But maybe the version of OS system software is responsible. I'm running OS X 10.4 with Safari 4.1.3. Do you have either an older or newer version of OS X on your computer? I'm no computer wizard, far from it, so I have no clue if this is pertinent...just trying to think what might be causing this to happen. (Edited to add: But others here use Macs and are also having the problem...so it's a real head-scratcher. )

Welcome and happy holidays, Paula.

Oh, how wonderful! Yes, indeed, her ballet training is very much in evidence. Just lovely, thank you for posting this.

I, too, thought that Ms. Ringer was articulate and gracious in the Today Show interview. I was glad to hear her say that she doesn't want an apology, since her body is integral to her art form and critics rightly take note of physical attributes. Like Cubanmiamiboy, I found her performance and appearance lovely in the clip that was shown...her physique is a bit reminiscent of Lynn Seymour's, well formed and strong, capable of deft and wide-ranging expression.

I'm glad you raised this issue, because I've always felt like the lone ranger when it comes to Nutcracker...I appreciate it in its historical context, for its visual panoply, wonderful music and so on, but it is among my least favorite ballets. I don't find it interesting or engaging, and certainly not great; even as I child, it left me cold. Maybe I'm just a born curmudgeon.

I adore Brigitte Bardot and always love seeing old photos of her in ballet mode. I'd not seen this one before, thank you!

Yes, so true about comedic performances not often receiving the recognition they deserve. Nielsen took such obvious pleasure in creating his comedic roles that his audience was able to enter into the process and laugh along with - not just at - him. There was something healing in this. Dirac, thank you for reminding me of The Poseidon Adventure! When I think of Nielsen's earlier work, my mind always goes to Forbidden Planet, which I never miss when it's on cable.

Cubanmiamiboy, I just love the videos you post and am in full agreement with Bart about the stories of your past and your homeland...there is such life, vigor and joy in what you share, and your enthusiasm for the dance and all the arts is truly infectious. Thank you!

Yes, absolutely. I always wanted to laugh during his dramatic forays, but once he found his niche in comedy he was pure genius.

Those clips are absolutely thrilling. I hope a lot of people get to appreciate them before they are taken down. Thanks so much.

Ah, lovely! I want a wayback machine! In lieu of that, YouTube is fabulous and thanks for this clip, it's a great way to start the day.

Thanks for that info, Mary...I have had so many large, unexpected expenses this month that I can't order it right away...but I'm glad to know you got it quickly and that you recommend it.

Oh, this gives me goosebumps! What a thrill! I would have loved to have been there.

I, for one, do wish you luck! When I was 18, I made a list of things not to do when I got older; the list was written in stone, not to be questioned under any circumstances (as the Nike ad exhorts: Just do it). However...at 60, things have changed. And while I smile tenderly at the global sweep and brave assumptions of my youth, overall I value the wisdom of experience and hindsight more than those prior "memos to self," with their partial foundations. Age has a way of turning us into fogies, true...but it can also distill and identify that which is eternally valuable. I don't expect younger readers to agree! And it probably wouldn't even be appropriate for them to do so.

Hear, hear.

It is lovely to hear this. My mother took me to see Alicia Alonso dance in the late 1950s and I will never forget it, though I've forgotten so much else between then and now! I wish Ms. Alonso a very happy birthday and bow deeply to her.