perky

I do wish he would not wear that comb-over/down bowl cut hairstyle though. He really is a good looking fellow is spite of the Oompa Loompa skin color, but that hair!

I particularly liked the Caracole picture. Those headpieces!

The article makes me happy as well. I love how Pam approaches her dancing. She has fun, takes it just seriously enough and doesn't bring any annoying drama. She's a true delight to watch and she actually made me vote for a contestant for the first time in all the seasons of the show. And yes, I am embarrassed to admit it. I am a grown woman after all, but if it keeps her on the show longer I'll keep doing it. Niecy disappointed me last night. Jive is not about shaking your ta-ta's but fast and sharp footwork which she lacked. Kate and her blase and victimized attitude need to go this week, otherwise I fear she'll push Tony over the breaking point and he'll stab her with the heel of her dance shoes.

Lamenting the sameness of ballet choreography is a valid point, it's the way she does it that irks me. It's like Kaufman is reducing Balanchine's choreography to a serious of visual "soundbites". Of course Balanchine used some of the visuals she mentions such as leotard clad dancers, high extensions and so on. But they were only a small part of the whole picture and used as a means of advancing his art. If today's new dance makers recycle Mr. B's choreography without adding any thing new or original to it how is this the Master's fault? Actually it makes Balanchine's accomplishments all the more remarkable. He also "recycled" choreography from the previous generation. Look at his many Petipa like steps in many of his more classical ballets. The fact that he still admired and used his choreographic influences while advancing his own style and dance vocabulary is amazing and wonderful. Lighten up Kaufman!

I agree with everything in your post. Sade is a class act. I much prefer the singers they've had on this season(Sade, Reba) rather than the auto-tuned Disney teen moppets they have featured in the past. Good for Pam that she got the encore dance! Once they start to do the dance-off for the bottom two couples and Kate is actually in the bottom then she's a goner. No way will the judges keep her in. Let us hope that is next week. I'm really liking all the extra dancing this season. The dance demos from the pro's are great. Tiler Peck's talent was wasted. She was only featured for maybe 10 or 15 seconds, although I thought Danny was used nicely.

I got very excited when Indianapolis City Ballet was announced but the gala was over 6 months ago and so far no other performances have been announced. You go to their web site and you get no additional information. Is this an actual performing company? I really wish Anne Bass would come along and adopt me so I could fund a top notch professional ballet company in Indiana. I'm having delusions of Lucia Chase grandeur.

You know I probably would have been more upset by Kate Gosselin surviving this week's elimination if I hadn't already been emotionally gobsmacked by Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine's story prior to his Macys Stars of Dance bit. I've always loved his dancing in American Rhythm competitions. He imbues his steps with an infectious joy. So I was at first excited to see him on my T.V. screen last night. But then they showed a picture of his adorable 2 year old son who was in Haiti when the earthquake hit and I literally yelled No! at the screen before he confirmed that his son had been killed in the quake. So..... Kate Gosselin still staying on this show, while annoying and slightly nausea inducing is nowhere near enough to be a tragedy and I'm sure she'll be gone soon. I really like Pamela Anderson! I like having my preconceptions about people proven wrong now and again. It keeps you on your toes.

It looks as if Anna/Evan have the Jive next week. Really liked Nicole/Derek. I like when beautiful people let their dork flag fly. In that regard she's a cute match with Derek who can be a bit of spaz sometimes. She has lovely lines and can seemingly handle Derek's choreography well. I surprised myself by how much I like Pam Anderson! Most celebrities are a bit tentative/stiff on the first dance. She let loose with all the momentum of a freight train which made it a fun dance to watch. If she can tighten up on the wildness and get serious with the technique she actually might be a contender.

Two from Balanchine: The pas de trois from Emeralds. The boy and two girls look like three young thoroughbred horse showing off their newly learned dressage skills. It always makes me feel happy and young. Another pas de trois, this one the opening of the Bransle pas de trois in Agon with the two boys and the girl. I love how she does the same powerful and explosive steps as the men. They dance it like they're being shot out of a cannon. It's tremendously exciting. I think I must have a thing for pas de trois'

Drew, she's from Massachusetts so perhaps Boston Ballet? And my daughter makes me watch the show with her against my will. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

That Walter Owen photo of Adams in her Picnic at Tintagel costume is gorgeous. Any ballettalkers out there that saw the ballet? Thanks so much hyperdog for posting these. In her photos Diana Adams seems to have such an elegant dignity about her. And those beautiful legs!

That's perfect, perky. Thanks for amending my earlier characterization. My memories are partial, but contain a lot of details filtered through the astonished mind of a teenager. The sexiness was there and it was NOT the standard 50s version of sexiness available to me in my suburban high school. Perhaps "knowing-and-not-knowing" would be an even better description. If she made you so gaga as a teenager imagine how Kent made Mr. B. feel?

I think the quality that Allegra had in this ballet was very unique to her. A sort of knowing, sexy kittenish quality. Not a rank innocent by any means but not overtly aware either. I've never seen the ballet, just basing my opinion on various sources such as Repertory In Review and Kent's own autobiography.

Balanchine saw things in Von Aroldingen that most people didn't, so who knows? I do seem to recall reading an interview with her where Balanchine told her she was one of the only one of his dancers who could act. But I agree it would have been a far different look than when Kent was dancing it. I would have preferred to have a revival of Balanchine's though. I would much rather have an imperfectly remembered Balanchine than a new version by a different choreographer. Having said that I wish Taylor-Corbet the best and hope she has a success with it. I'm thinking of two very different dancers for Anna 2. Janie Taylor and Tiler Peck.

Two of the so-called "worst" dresses I actually rather liked. Charlize Theron's pink Dior looked like something Dovima would have worn while posing with the elephants. It looked beautifully made and fitted. Diane Kruger's Chanel was interesting in a good way. I think it would have come across better though with a more decent fit.

I think Weir would be particularly beautiful to watch in the Standard dances. Not just in his lines or quality of movement but the care and attention he would give his partner. The Latin dances would suit him as well because although the men put on a facade of masculinity, it's a peacock form of masculinity.

I'm curious as well Farrell Fan. Is it a new Mejia ballet or something Farrell actually danced? I would love to see her revive Mejia's Cinderella.

I would also be nice to know what ballet they are rehearsing. Maybe Bejart's Romeo and Juliet?

Do they really make double-sided sticky tape strong enough to hold Pamela Anderson's uh....assets? I think Evan who is paired with Anna T. will be the one to beat. And Anna gets a contender! Yay!! Who did Tony D. kill in another life to get stuck with Kate Gosselin as a partner? Talk about bad karma.

Does anyone happen to know why the Haieff Divertimento fell out of repertory? It sound delightful. Also, it seems like it was one of the first ballets Balanchine made retaining the composer's name in the title. a practice that became more pronounced in the 60's and 70's.

I actually really love Asada and feel very disappointed in how she is being presented this year. She's being made to fit a certain aesthetic (dramatic, heavy, flinging about ala Russe) rather than being who she really is (light, joyful, youthful and full of hope). There's no joy at all when she steps on the ice now. It's heartbreaking. She needs a new coach ASAP. She's a lovely and talented gem who needs a new setting to really shine. I hope she sticks around until 2014.

I think I know who is enforcing the ISU costume rule, Bob Mackie, Cher and Bjork. Elite Figure Skating has always grown and harvested sour grapes no matter the country. I still remember Nancy Kerigan's disdain after being shut out of a gold by Oksana Baiul.

Okay, Tim Horten's have been knocked off the top pedestal of things I love about Canada by Virtue/Moir. Their free dance was elegant, musical and deeply felt without being over the top (I'm looking at you Russian ice dancers!). Speaking of the Russians, is it even legal to use part of the costume as an assist to lifts? When I watch the Russian ice dancers I feel like I'm seeing the same program over and over again. The programs look the same as they did in the late eighties and early nineties. Unattrative costumes that consume the dancers in flying strips of garish fabric and overwrought music and choreography.

Floor reporter to Male Contestant after his finals performance of the slave solo in Le Corsair, "You really got the crowd on their feet! How do you feel about your performance?" Male Contestant: "Well you know Coach and I have really been working hard to stick the landings! (Fist pump to Coach) All you can do is try to stay focused on the prize and give 110 % all the time." Floor Reporter: "Now that you've won the gold what are you going to do?" Male Contestant: "I'm going to DisneyWorld!"

I think the designer was aiming for a sort of untamed Tartar look for the Russian couple. Out of all the hideous costumes in this visually ugly production I think the Russian dancer costumes are the best of the worst. I rather like the cheekiness of them.