perky

I'm not sure Karina can fix the pigeon toes problem in such a short amount of time, which is a shame because it's all I look at when he dances. I can't help myself! He also needs to work on connecting with the music more. He was counting out the steps in his head during his quickstep and it showed in his movements.

He was better in his personality this week though, not as smarmy and pseudo homeboy.

Leigh, join us in the great cheesefest that is DWTS. You'll have a guilty pleasure blast and actually see some wonderful dancing (from the pros).

Hope you feel better soon Farrell Fan!

Get well sweets from a ballet doggie sounds like very good medicine!

I watched most of the first hour before Gossip Girl started. What were Louis and Margaret thinking re: Margaret's costume? Those gold lame bat wings?? They were like something Rupaul would wear on Rupaul's Drag Race!

I knew I was somewhat odd because I actually thought it was wonderful and hilarious! It was a bit too over the top though.There were moments in the actual dancing parts of it where Cho looked graceful and fluid.

If they are actually serious about the competition, then they need to go easy on the camp. Anything else and it becomes a Cloris-like spectacle.

Kyle Massey's energy was thrilling. The Hoff was somewhat scary and entertaining at the same time.

I really didn't see much of what Mike Sorrentino did above the knees as I was fixated on his extreme pigeon toes and bandy leggedness. Overall an entertaining first show, some folks with serious potential and not too many train-wrecks.

How was Florence???

I thought she did very well! I laughed out loud at her swearing during rehearsals. I really didn't need to see her lift up her shirt and expose her bra though!

I watched most of the first hour before Gossip Girl started. What were Louis and Margaret thinking re: Margaret's costume? Those gold lame bat wings?? They were like something Rupaul would wear on Rupaul's Drag Race!

I knew I was somewhat odd because I actually thought it was wonderful and hilarious! It was a bit too over the top though.There were moments in the actual dancing parts of it where Cho looked graceful and fluid.

Kyle Massey's energy was thrilling. The Hoff was somewhat scary and entertaining at the same time.

I really didn't see much of what Mike Sorrentino did above the knees as I was fixated on his extreme pigeon toes and bandy leggedness.

Overall an entertaining first show, some folks with serious potential and not too many train-wrecks.

It's not from a specific ballet but I consider those flat pancake tutus to be costume disasters. They make the dancers look like fishing lure bobbers bouncing around a lake. Very distracting.

Of thier current programs I would rather they televise Program 1 which consists of Fanfare, Bugaku (which I've never seen) and Theme and Variations. I am however grateful for what is being shown.

Who stages the Western Symphony that MCB performs? Is it the now standard 3 movements or do they include the Scherzo that was dropped in 1960?

I've been itching to watch Miami City Ballet again since the last time they toured up my way.

So.............. :clapping: :clapping:

This news that Dance In America is going to show so much dance and ballet has just made me ridiculously happy.

It looks like Cheryl has Rick Fox as her partner. I believe he's a good foot taller than her. It seems like that would make it hard for her to maintain the proper arm positions in hold.

I'm going to be a good girl today and not rant about my real feelings for the former governor from Alaska. Knowing that she'll be in the audience to watch her daughter dance is not something I'll be looking forward to. Since when does giving birth make a make a person a STAR? I gave birth too, can I be on Dancing With The Stars?

I agree with miliosir. This is a lackluster cast. Usually there are two are three people I'm really interested in watching. This time only The Hoff has stirred any interest.

I refuse to take seriously anyone who names and refers to themselves as Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.

signed: Perky "The Incident" Shaikh.

It's been almost a year now since we brought Leo the stray deaf cat into the fold and it's still a struggle at times, although much better than it used to be.

The main problem is between Frisky, the only girl and Leo. Frisky was the only one of our three cats that I got when she was still a kitten. So she is my spoiled little princess (I need therapy! ). She looks down her bewhiskered nose at Leo as if he were some stinky bedraggled peasant who dared to invade her royal space.

Sebastion is my sweet big himbo cat. He's the alpha male and takes his duties as such very seriously. When Frisky and Leo are badgering each other he literally steps in to break it up.

I don't think Sebastion got much physical attention from humans much when he was growing up. He loves to be near me constantly and demands much petting and kisses, but only if no one else is watching. He'll look up and make sure he isn't being watched by any cat or human eyes as he gets his loving attention. It's really very sweet.

Good on you Cubanmiamiboy for bringing in the stray. If you decide to keep her I advise getting another litter box. Also, keep her isolated from the other cat for a few days. Perhaps in bedroom with the door closed. Let Tshen-Fu get used to her presence and smell slowly.

Mel, when you mentioned Swan Lake it made me wonder if anyone was fool enough to use live swans in a production?

I've seen the top portion before on those lovely Beaton swan costumes but never the wings! They seem to sit low on the back of the dancers. Are they attached to the bodice or the skirt?

There's no Balanchine dancers on this list, therefore I find it suspect.

A top ten list is too limiting anyway. You've got to have at least a top twenty.

My "reformed" tomcat also would've made Balanchine reconsider his beliefs about cats. What a clumsy boy. He misses the bathroom countertop when he jumps up to supervise my teeth-brushing, he ran into our glass sliding door, which unfortunately was closed at the time, he rolls off the stairs while doing stair watch duty. But, he is a sweet boy who sleeps next to my head all night. This also means he takes his bath right in my EAR! Ugg!

We recently adopted a white deaf boy cat. He is the curious one who knocks over things and goes into places he's not supposed to. He also likes to leave a brown surprise in our downstairs sink every morning. Our vet thinks he wasn't properly tought by his mom how to use the litter box. So, guess who gets to be his cat mommy and teach him!

We also have a girl who looks part Maine Coon. This is the only one we had as a kitten, so she considers herself the baby and expects all the rewards and accolades that come with that position.

I'm wondering if the makeup and tutu is for a dance sequence?

The Zorro mask would help to make it harder to tell the switch from Portman to Sarah Lane. Of course WE could but what about the general audience?

I too think the photo should have been cropped at the waist level.

Looks like this swan made her nest in some fresh black tar.

Alex suffered a torn achilles tendon during stage rehearsals for Wednesday nights broadcast. Obviously he's out of the show. He was sobbing, the other dancers were sobbing, heck I was sobbing. Wishing him a speedy, healthy and safe recovery.

It's interesting how over the moon crazy we can get over dancers in such a short amount of time.

I watched last night and was completely blown away by both Alex's solo and his hip-hop routine. Unbelievable! The kid's got heart to go along with the bucket-loads of talent and charisma he possesses. He seemed so sweet and humble as he talked about how Edward Villella was the biggest dance influence in his life.

I never really understood WHY he wanted to to do SYTYCD when he had Eddie as a mentor and teacher and was able to dance all those wonderful ballet roles. After his performance last night I understand now. I think he has an insatiable hunger to try new dance styles and to prove to himself that he can master them. I do feel for you Miami City Ballet fans who lament his temporary (hopefully) leave of absence from the company, although that feeling is mixed with envy that you got to see him dance so frequently!

Back in the day, the majority of dancers, even principals, got an announcement of when their last performance would be, and, principals got a career history and wrap-up article in the NYT before the final performance. They were presented with flowers, and there could be hugs from company members, staff, former dancers, etc. Reviews were regular performance reviews with a mention of the retirement and perhaps a line or two in tribute. While there might have been private company events and celebrations to mark the milestone, the public recognition was in the context of a regular season performance, or in the case of Stephanie Saland, who retired with the 1993 Balanchine Celebration, a special solo bow in front of the curtain, a privilege also given to retiring corps members and soloists after regular season performances. Fans of the dancers would show up for those performances.

The tribute performances were for historically important dancers like Farrell and McBride, where programs would be tailored to them, although not all historically important dancers got them.

If that tradition had held, we wouldn't need to have this conversation.

Helene makes an excellent observation.

Martin's does love to give his dancers high profile, rah rah send-offs. Whether it comes from a genuine respect and admiration for his dancers or from a desire to sell more tickets is unknown. I personally believe it's a little of both.

I do think it's nice to give these retiring dancers their gala, but it does diminish the overall impact of them if to use Arlene Croce's term "utility dancers" get the same treatment as icons such as Farrell and McBride.

Thank you to all you New Yorker's for your posts.

Please keep them coming!

I'm very happy to hear that Maria is doing so well in Chaconne. She of course is divine in adagio. But she needs the challenge of allegro as well. The more formal pas de deux in that ballet is intricate and speedy as hell. You need a ballerina who can handle it with a sort of bemused formality.

Thanks for the length to the Kaufman article Kathleen.

It's a good article and it speaks for me.

Can you imagine instructing a 8 year old to do these moves? "Okay kids, this is the part where you bump and grind! And put your back into it!" Eww!

A child's innocence is such a beautiful and fragile thing. It all to often gets snuffed out by circumstances, poverty and violence. It's a shame you have to add the idiocy of parents misdirecting popular culture onto their kids as well.

My problem with "responsible" adults sexualizing kids is that the next logical step for these girls is to sexualize themselves.

When you're a 7 or 8 year old girl it's perfectly natural to explore your own body, however these people are almost encouraging these kids to EXPLOIT their pre-pubescent bodies. It's sick.

well, this hit the internet yesterday like a cyclone, thought I'd link to get your opinions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjehii-jjHE...player_embedded

Apparently the dancers are ages 7-9 and this type of choreo is now common on the dance competition circuit.

ok, jumping down from my soap box now...

Oh don't jump down yet and save a seat up there for me!

This isn't dance to me. It's writhing and humping (hope that doesn't sound too harsh) with a few ta-da! tricks thrown in every few beats. It's bad taste show dancing of the lowest common denominator. Add having kids dance it and it also makes it disgusting and vile.

I actually like Beyonce and that particular video so I'm not a prude.

My favorites were the Derek/Nicole Paso and Evan/Anna cha cha as well. I thought the costumes, hair and make-up for those dances were top-notch. Nicole as Betty Page! And when I saw Anna in her white bandage outfit I yelled "She's LeeLoo from The Fifth Element!".

I do enjoy watching Nicole dance. But she came into the competition at such a higher skill level than everyone else that it seems unfair.

An Evan/Anna and Erin/Maks final two with Evan the winner would be my ideal.

Best: The Sleepwalker's candle in La Sonnambula, both in her hand and it's ascent at the end.

The gate The Prodigal Son jumps over in defiance at the beginning and crawls through with help from his sisters at the end.

Worst: Mother Ginger's face powder in NYCB's Nutcracker. I alway feel sorry for the dancer having to navigate on stilts while breathing in all that powder.

Here's the Times's slide show, to help us visualize:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/04/3...01-gala-ss.html

Strange, but elegant. I love the white bathing caps. And there are steel cables in the background of the first photo, reminding us of Calatrava's bridges. There's definitely a late-Diaghilev look to it, as in le Train Bleu.

Thanks for the link to the slideshow. I agree that the costumes look very twenties and futuristic. A hovering Zeppelin would have not been out of place in the background as scenery. Who did the costumes?