Old Fashioned

A new book by Francine Prose about women who inspired artists is out, and a certain famous dancer and choreographer are featured in it. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/ae/b...reviews/1591012

I don't know about that. Center Stage (which was bound to attract the teen crowd) was supposed to spark more interest, but it doesn't seem as if it did all that great. Maybe because it kind of gave ballet a negative image... The Three Tenors? Ha. I can't think of two people that can actually name them.

I second discounts.

Well, yes, HGO is a wonderful company, but come on- it's Texas we're talking about. The teeny-boppers aren't going to spend their Saturday nights at the opera. Only a few I know of my age even recognize the name Josh Groban; not that he's an opera star yet (more in the pop genre currently), but he's training to become one and should be well known among people somewhat familiar with opera. Ballet, on the other hand, is pretty popular among the plentiful number of dancers here. Even then, the majority of the teen scene isn't so interested in the fine arts. Alexandra, you're right. They do back away from me at the thought of both.

I don't know about New York, but that's certainly not the case here in Houston. I even get odd stares from passersby in the school library when I'm watching opera videos.

Aawww, I don't know much about her life, but I have a few recordings of her on cds. She has a beautiful voice. I'll look into that biography.

I read this in the Sunday Houston Chronicle. Thought it might stir some interest in the future of Houston Ballet. On the Wings of 'Butterfly'

Yes, Dominic is very talented; he's one of my favorites. That's odd he doesn't seem short on stage, to me at least. He is coming out with his own company of contemporary ballet called Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, which premieres in February. It will be interesting to see how he does with it.

I saw a performance with Nina and Dominic in it as Manon and Des Grieux, like I mentioned earlier, yesterday. Both danced beautifully as always (well, I rarely get to see Miss Ananiashvili, but Dominic has never failed to impress me), but Nina didn't cross my mind as a "sex kitten." Her face is too sweet and innocent. A very good looking Randy Herrera played the part of the greedy brother, Lescaut, while his real life girlfriend, Leticia Oliveira, starred opposite him as his Mistress. It was interesting to watch Lauren Anderson pantomime the Madame since I usually watch her as the one dancing, not acting. I'm not the best at critiquing, so I'll just say the one thing that really bothered me (it's actually a reoccuring problem) was how loud every dancer was, even coming from the principals. I guess the theater wasn't built to suffocate the sound enough (they have to share it with Houston Grand Opera). No, I didn't get to meet them. :( People that worked there said I could probably catch a glimpse of them at the Academy, but I doubted anyone would take me and Nina would probably have been long by then, the one person I really wanted to meet. I had a great time seeing them perform, anyway.

Thanks everyone. I hope I do get to meet her tomorrow, but it's not certain.

How do you pronounce Nina Ananiashvili's last name? And how would you address someone of such fame if you met her/him? By full name or along the lines of Mr. and Ms./Mrs./Miss?

I agree.

Hey photoguy! Guess who I am? You posted the same thing on another message board, and I replied with a comment about the balance of the male/female principal dancers of HB.

About the shoes- on the Bloch website, it mentions Europeans prefer a more tapered box to a square one to create the image of a longer line of the foot while Americans prefer a more square platform in helping with balance. Ms. Leigh is absolutely right about the majority of the country studying in a European or Russian tradition. It must be due to the fact that those styles have been around a lot longer than Balanchine and is still seen as the more classical ballet techniques. I do not share her view, however, that it is unfortunate outsiders see that we have a certain look. I would love for more Americans and others to recognize Balanchine as our native ballet language (people in my parts hardly acknowledge the fact that there are different techniques, less know what Balanchine is); it gives us an identity like the UK has with the RAD and Russians with the Vaganova. It's amazing how diverse we are, that's what America should be about, but I also wish Mr. B and Lincoln Kirstein's dream of creating an entirely American idea of ballet instead of having to borrow from others would become fully realized. I always cringe when I hear or read someone using the title City Ballet for their company because it doesn't personify what it's all about. New York City is acceptable since it represents the rest of the country.

LeClercq would probably make an interesting person to do a biopic on, but I don't know much about her. The only dancer that lead a dramatic life off the stage I'm familiar with is Farrell, so that's why I chose her as a subject for a movie. If there is anyone else I should look up, please feel free to give me suggestions...

LeClercq would probably make an interesting person to do a biopic on, but I don't know much about her. The only dancer that lead a dramatic life off the stage I'm familiar with is Farrell, so that's why I chose her as a subject for a movie. If there is anyone else I should look up, please feel free to give me suggestions...

The bleeping ruined the second story; it wasn't very affective in showing the guy's cruelty. I loved seeing all of the dancers' faces unclose. Watching something on television never comes close to the excitement of being there live, but it's also nice to see their expressions. I missed all of that in the theater. It was also nice that they didn't use a standby Girl in the Yellow Dress.

Houston Ballet is going to present Cinderella this season. I was really small when I saw it and don't remember much of it; hopefully I will get to see it again. The HB 2002-2003 Season Press Release might help give you more information.

Thanks. That explains it.

Same. Ugh. Macaulay Culkin is totally not a ballet boy. I have a question- everyone makes such a big deal about Balanchine's Nutcracker, but I didn't think it was all that great. The choreography was a bit simplistic coming from Mr. B. I have never seen it live, so I don't know if there's a really huge difference between the stage experience and screen experience. Somebody please explain.

There is no way I'm expecting a clone of Suzanne Farrell to show up on my doorstep, or for anyone else to expect me to find one of her (I mean, it is her) . The only thing I want is someone who can portray her well, and it doesn't even have to be about how well she can dance. That's what actors and actresses (good ones, at least) are supposed to be all about, right? The actress should be a ballet dancer, but I am not looking for her to duplicate Farrell's style- impossible. I may not even show the actress dancing- maybe just in simple classes and rehearsals and such. I have a long time to think about my "career," considering I'm still in grade school. My mind will probably change at some point or another as I develop more of an understanding of this type of thing, but for now, this is the path that I would like to take.

There is no way I'm expecting a clone of Suzanne Farrell to show up on my doorstep, or for anyone else to expect me to find one of her (I mean, it is her) . The only thing I want is someone who can portray her well, and it doesn't even have to be about how well she can dance. That's what actors and actresses (good ones, at least) are supposed to be all about, right? The actress should be a ballet dancer, but I am not looking for her to duplicate Farrell's style- impossible. I may not even show the actress dancing- maybe just in simple classes and rehearsals and such. I have a long time to think about my "career," considering I'm still in grade school. My mind will probably change at some point or another as I develop more of an understanding of this type of thing, but for now, this is the path that I would like to take.

Hopefully my movie (haha, can't believe I'm talking like I'm positive it's going to happen) won't be too "Hollywood," or as you put it, "Follywood." I'm looking more into creating independent films that reach far deeper than the surface of things. I don't doubt it will be possible to capture Suzanne Farrell in a nutshell of a movie, since I consider film making an art that in itself should be able to do anything (did that make any sense? I'm not the best with words:(). Of course it will be difficult, though, and I will have to pull out all my resources and knowledge to accomplish something like this. Sorry if you don't want to see a Farrell movie or if you don't think anyone can do it, but I'm willing to try.

Hopefully my movie (haha, can't believe I'm talking like I'm positive it's going to happen) won't be too "Hollywood," or as you put it, "Follywood." I'm looking more into creating independent films that reach far deeper than the surface of things. I don't doubt it will be possible to capture Suzanne Farrell in a nutshell of a movie, since I consider film making an art that in itself should be able to do anything (did that make any sense? I'm not the best with words:(). Of course it will be difficult, though, and I will have to pull out all my resources and knowledge to accomplish something like this. Sorry if you don't want to see a Farrell movie or if you don't think anyone can do it, but I'm willing to try.

Thank you, LMCtech. If I ever have a career in film directing, I know exactly who's life I would base my ballet movie on... Although there is already an amazing documentary, I think a full blown movie would be much more entertaining and reach a larger audience, and there will definitely be more dancing. Eh- good dancing.