Old Fashioned

It's hard to make the call here, though. Vampire ballets do seem to be very successful at the box office, but I think the Potter franchise has a wider appeal.

And the local library had a Twilight v Harry Potter debate this weekend -- which series was better written, more interesting, etc.

Potter v Twilight smackdown

There's no doubt that Rowling is the superior writer and HP the better series, but I think Twilight would make a better ballet. Twilight can do without dialogue (in fact, the story may even be improved without it as evidence of the wretched screenplay written for the movie). Not sure you could do the same with HP. Rowling would probably demand all British casting.

I'm still in favour of 'Twilight'. 'Twilight' is even located in Seattle, isn't it? Should be the obvious choice for PNB.

I fear "Northern Exposure: The Ballet", or "Twin Peaks: The Ballet"

Twilight is located in Forks. I can imagine the pas de deux with Bella and Edward in the field and Edward reveals his sparkly skin in the sunlight.

Twin Peaks is way too complicated for a ballet!

Cristian, you may have hit on something here. Maybe Valdes is the cuban Somova...one shows off her extensions whenever she can and the other shows off her balances!

I'll take Valdes' balances over Somova's extensions. Just based on the few clips I've seen of Viengsay, she is certainly lacking in some areas and it's easy to understand how someone wouldn't like her performance style, but I can't help but be amazed by what she's capable of.

I am surprised to read that she found the KAB training and style so uncomfortable given that she began her training there at age ten and remained there for seven years according to her bio on ABT's site. However, she does not have what that school would probably consider an ideal body for ballet, so maybe that was part of it, although they have successfully trained other dancers who do not have an ideal physique.

To my untrained eye, it's difficult for me to see how Wiles' figure doesn't conform to ballet standards. What is the ideal physique for Vaganova training?

Just from the excerpt bart posted, I found her comments to be refreshingly honest. I would like to get my hands on a copy of the full interview. I don't think I've ever heard from detractors of Vaganova technique, and it's interesting that such a prominent dancer who received the majority of her training from KAB would come out and express her true feelings on it. It's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that someone schooled in a certain way would end up disliking what they were taught. I'm sure there might be SAB students, past and present, who don't really like Balanchine style. I don't find Wiles' comments to be very controversial; I think she's just speaking about her personal experience and it doesn't seem as if she means it as a warning to others to keep away from Vaganova training (at least I hope that's not her intention).

I would donate a good chunk of that money to the Paul Taylor Dance Company. They lost their lease on Broadway due to soaring rents and the expansion of the Banana Republic beneath them. I don't know what their new space on Grand Street is like, but I hope it's working out for them.

I don't think vulnerability should automatically disqualify someone (Hayworth should still count); if that's the case then Veronika Part wouldn't be considered glamorous. She strikes me as someone both vulnerable and sensitive, which only adds to her appeal. Are we looking at someone's stage or screen persona or off stage/screen as well? There are those who project a very glamorous image on stage but I can't imagine them walking around in a fur coat and sunglasses. Then there are those capable of both--Anna Netrebko, Irina Dvorovenko.

I wish that Tina Fey would host.

Yes, I love Tina Fey. I think 30 Rock is a very smart comedy.

I did not much care for the innovation of hauling out multiple past winners to announce the acting nominations and address the nominees in the audience with a laundry list of their many fine qualities.

Yes, I thought that was distracting and a bit insincere when some of the presenters had to look back and forth between the nominee and the teleprompter.

Hugh was great; loved the opening but didn't care for the Baz Luhrmann number toward the middle (in my mind no one other than Fred can/should do Top Hat, White Tie and Tails). It seems standard now that Beyonce performs at every awards show. And I can definitely do without the HSM stars.

Here's what Senator McCaskill has to say on the subject:

We do need to look at the safety net side of the stimulus bill that can get into the economy quickly. But we can't right every wrong in terms of programs we support in the stimulus bill. And the other thing is, whether it is the National Endowment of the Arts or some of the STD funding or contraceptive funding, all we did was just tee up ammunition for the other side to tear this thing down. And I would like to think we are smarter than that. I'm hopeful on the Senate side we will be smarter than that.

A bit of good news: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/...illion-for-nea/

Let's see if it will make it through the Senate (apparently it's not included in the Senate version?). It may ultimately get pulled out or reduced to appease the opposition. Even with this addition, it's still far less than the budget that the Ministry of Culture in France gets, as someone pointed out earlier. But it's still something.

Symbolic gestures may be all that's left. The new administration's Social Secretary Desiree Rogers mentioned redecorating the White House to represent a broader range of American culture. I was somewhat disheartened that the Inaugural Concert and Inauguration didn't include a wider range of musicians and singers outside the mainstream. After years of country music stars, I was hoping this president would bring in some jazz musicians (I know he listens to some of the giants like Miles and 'Trane). After all, many had campaigned and performed on his behalf. I would have loved to see Dianne Reeves. I realize every move can't please everybody, but the concert could have been better.

Raymond J. Learsy believes that the Obama Administration will be an advocate for the arts: Obama, the Arts, and Soft Power

Interesting debate down in the comments section for and against government arts funding.

It’s a sad sign of the times that movies that really should be ideal for kids are made too violent for them. There’s really no reason for a Batman picture to be that scary.

I don't think Nolan had children in mind as his main audience for this Batman series. As violent as the movie is, there's surprisingly little blood and guts. I think he is trying hard to not allow his Batman to turn into a campy costume play, which is arguably what Burton's films were. According to a comic book junkie friend of mine, Nolan's represents the original Batman better than any previous films or television series, and Ledger is the Joker. Up until now the character almost became a prankster of sorts who couldn't be taken seriously, but now he's real and gritty, and very psychopathic the way he was meant to be.

No one should be making an unqualified diagnosis of anyone's mental health, especially not based on a short tv interview.

I'd also say I think some of it is burnout on the part of the pros as well. Pro-am competitions are very wearing on an instructor both physically and mentally. It's why very few top professional competitors will do pro-am until after their competitive careers are over. I think the producers need to evaluate whether they need to rotate out some of the pros because some of them look like they need to take a break. Some of the choreography is looking very tired.

There may be reluctance to bringing in new pros because some of them have a strong following, and on message boards many fans have stated they would stop watching if their favorite pro leaves. Lower ratings this season could also be due to an early exit for Julianne and no Maks.

I don’t think miliosr meant that it was Yamaguchi’s fault personally – just that there’s not a lot of tension or suspense currently and that may be affecting audience response. I agree with you that ratings don’t always matter, but with a reality show where audience participation is solicited, it’s certainly a factor to consider.

At this point I don't think she is such a shoo-in to take home the prize. She has received some backlash for her supposedly "unfair advantage" and being at the top of the scoreboard for so long can work against her.

Ratings - Week Six

Performances - 3rd - 18.0 million viewers

Results - 3rd - 18.0 million viewers

Compared to prior seasons, performance night ratings are down:

Season 3/Week 6 -- 21.3 million

Season 4/Week 6 -- 18.9 million

Season 5/Week 6 -- 21.4 million

Season 6/Week 6 -- 18.0 million

I think there are several causes:

1) Normal audience erosion after six seasons,

2) slow audience return to network television after the writer's strike, and

3) a dull competition. (Sorry Kristi fans!)

Yes, she's just making the show unbearable to watch...

And of course, tv ratings are the best indication of the quality of a tv program...

This is not classical. It is not neoclassical.

http://www.geneschiavone.com/gallery/v/Pri...SC1939.jpg.html

The only thing that comes to mind here is a broken arrow. Interesting how in achieving such an extension, the line is actually shortened.

On the half-empty side, the competition isn't particularly enjoyable given that Kristi and Mark lead the pack week-after-week and appear to be heading toward an inevitable victory.

They are the only thing that I'm finding enjoyable about the show. I haven't watched any season until now because of Kristi, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with each week, despite the awful music.

Ashton.

Welch or Wheeldon?

Shades

Gillian Murphy or Ashley Bouder?

The absolute highlight of the ladies finals was Yukari Nakano. That she was left off the podium is an abomination.

I agree. She's not the most artistic and desperately needs to work on her flexibility and spirals, but she skated the cleanest program with great speed and landed the jump that Asada missed.

• I never had to think about whether my leg was straight
  
• It didn't matter if my foot wasn't pointed
  
• I never had to connect with a partner.
  

The first two don't need comment. If the last one is true, how did she manage to win US pairs with Rudy Galindo?

I thought the first two comments were strange, too, although I can somewhat understand what she was trying to say. Perhaps straight legs and a pointed foot came naturally to her that she never actually had to *think* about doing it and in figure skating these elements are of minuscule importance compared to their importance in ballroom dancing. A straight leg in a spiral is desirable, but it's not going to win you the gold (I can think of a couple Olympian skaters who got away with this). As for pointing the foot, in a skating boot one can only have so much flexibility--one need only flex and stretch the ankle.

As for the last comment, I have no idea...

Interesting to note that the reactions to the article here are much different from the ones at the winger. Any reason why?

This whole idea of Part staying in New York and working out her problems or McKenzie having a Scrooge in the last scene of "A Christmas Carol" total change of heart and making Veronika a principal is quixotic. That would be wonderful, but it ain't gonna happen. It is also likely that neither party wants it to happen.

Even if McKenzie miraculously offers Veronika principal status, that doesn't guarantee that she will stay. Her problems with ABT probably go beyond that.

We don't know what her real reason for leaving is and wouldn't be so quick to judge her actions based on what's given in the article. Part seems awfully reluctant to talk about her situation, so I would assume it's more than not fitting into the ABT culture. The bottom line is, she's unhappy there and her loyal fans should support her decision to leave and seek out something better for herself. The problem is we can't figure out a place that would be a perfect fit for her. Part's New York audience will sorely miss her, but hopefully this does not mean the last of her presence here.