Funny Face

What year was this written? I remember reading it some years ago when I checked it out from the library.

This is the whole reason I brought up the bone density issue and questioned a stress fracture occurring from Pilates. I think between a high impact sport with lots of repetition, much competition and stress, and dietary restrictions, many of these girls must have the bones of a 75-year-old.

This isn't a ballet role. It's just that I always wanted to be Supergirl. Our university is in a city that treats Halloween VERY seriously. So much so, that our annual concert runs this week Thursday, Saturday and Sunday -- off Friday night! On the last day before Halloween, we come to class in costume. Last year, I finally came as Supergirl. It's amazing to go across the floor in a cape! Jete, jete, wheeeee!

I can't get over Barbie and her pink table -- priceless. I'm reminded of a time I was in church one Sunday with my fiance and a few rows in front of us, a male toddler was holding a naked Barbie and literally pulling her legs apart -- like a human wishbone. It was so incongruous that the two of us nearly had to leave the service, we were having such a hard time suppressing our laughter. During all my years of teaching pre-school dance, we would often do a routine about "putting the babies to bed," and the children were encouraged to bring their favorite doll from home for this. At least one child would arrive with a semi-naked Barbie, and I would snatch the doll away, and exclaim, "I said to bring a baby, not a babe!" It amazed me to see tiny children playing with these kinds of dolls at an age when I was still playing with baby dolls. Parents, wise up on this, please.

Exactly.

Is anyone besides me a little curious about the bone density of some of these youngsters? That perhaps there might be some overtraining going on in the quest to excel at an ever younger age in a sport that considers someone over the hill at 22? I'm rather unnerved to hear about a stress fracture occurring during Pilates.

I don't suppose that new system will put back in the compulsory figures? That would truly make a difference. Scott Hamilton was one of the most vocal opponents of the removal of this aspect of the judging. He said the judges could now fit in one more cocktail party instead. Do you all remember Peggy Fleming's nearly perfect compulsories?

Actually, during Ruh's first pro competition, she got great marks -- better than most of the other, more traditional skaters -- as the judges seemed intent on rewarding an aspect of figure skating that has been neglected for too long. I have it on tape, and when I show it to people who haven't seen her before, they're awestruck. She was also on the Today Show last year and entered the Guiness record book for number of consecutive spins which she performed on that show. I think it was well over 100. :dizzy:

So much of this seems jump related. I wish there was more emphasis on the skating part of figure skating. And the spins, like Lucinda Ruh's. Heavenly. I hope if any of you haven't yet seen Dorothy Hamill skate in person, try to do so in the near future. You never know how long she'll continue to tour, and her skating is still so pure and incredible to watch. Every dancer should study her back and use of arms. Ditto for Yuka Sato. Those two are so inspirational to me. I just can't stand seeing otherwise promising young dancers with flapping, throw away arms, combined with weak spines. THe upper body is too often an afterthought.

Unfortunately, his career has been seriously threatened by hip problems, which seems to be a growing trend ((Tara Lipinski, etc.). There was talk that he would have to give up the sport completely, but he is reportedly continuing to train. He is currently unable to do an axel and, I believe, a loop. I am wondering what the longterm effects will be on young skaters from their intensified schedules and multiple revolutions.

That's a nice piece of dance history, especially for those who hadn't known about Markova's origins. Regarding the picture, it looks to be a type of penche. The standing leg is only slightly turned out, if at all, and the tilt is there, although not the "6 o'clock" penche as most people envision it. One thing I've noticed in many pictures of earlier ballerinas in arabesque is that Russian dancers appear to have the chest more forward than up. There isn't that sharp perpendicular shape we now see. Could you comment on this, Mel?

His parents were quite astute, though. As I recall, Boitano was his coach's only star, and his parents stuck with her. His training seems extremely sound; hence, the longevity.

Ditto!!!

Yikes, I spoke too soon. Just checked out the latest news from the magazine "Blades on Ice" and Cohen's coach, Tatiana Tarasova, is quoted as saying that Cohen is very near the quad now. In fact, she's been working on her jumps with Victor Petrenko's brother, Vladimir, and is reportedly jumping higher this year. She's working on a triple-triple-double combination. Her jumps did, in fact, look quite secure this early in the season. Among other news is that Brian Boitano is planning to compete in his 10th Ice Wars on November 13th.

It was on network, but they're often replayed on cable.

Lovely. And it's nice to see that she's not 'winging' either. One other thing -- people do discuss quite a bit the potential problems of hyperextended legs, but then again, they sure can be pretty, no?

I'd actually read the results that were posted on the web prior to seeing the skate today. I was busy doing legal stuff, so I only got to see Cohen doing her free skate. She seems to have found a comfort level previously unseen. I'm glad she dropped the attempts at the quad, which seemed to be a great distraction in the past (with her former coach). With those incredible spiral sequences, she doesn't need extra 'tricks.' She looks a little taller to me this year. Sometimes they get those late growth spurts. I read she was quoted as saying she is "thinking less" about her skating, and just doing it.

I've noticed this has had a few views but no one has dared to "boldly go where no man has gone before" in this thread, so Mel, I'll go out on a limb here with a few small corrections: 1. After watching this several times, it appears he doesn't quite put down the heel of the back foot when landing. 2. The landing could be in a tighter 5th, but I don't know what his particular level of turnout is. 3. It appears on the final frame of the landing when he is in plie that his rear end is slightly out instead of underneath him (on the changement). 4. Finally, there is one frame where his shoulders appear to be rising slightly on the way up. Nitpicking is a terrible thing, no?

There are 12 in all. I'm missing No. 7. No. 9 -- Chance to Love (Leah gets more interested in a guy than ballet) No. 10 -- Rising Star (Leah gets caught up in dancing in two conflicting performances at the same time) No. 11 -- Startng Over (Leah gets injured and has to fight her way back to restoring her technique) No 12 -- Summer Dance (Leah gets into a renewed rivalry with her former nemesis from San Francisco when the two are at an SI in Vermont together)

Arabesque, I have them all, with the exception of one somewhere in the middle, so I could update you -- I'll have to go through them again. I do recall one where Leah got injured and had to retrain from scratch.

Isn't this phenomenon about the Cubs in the Book of Revelations?

It's an interesting site. But just so anyone interested knows ahead of time, there are monthly dues of $8.00 per month for Readerville, to be paid on an honor system.

Not only is this board full of people who love ballet, but people who are very kindhearted. I'm amazed and gratified by the outpouring of friendship I have received in such a short time. Thanks and congratulations.

I like that -- quiet, but he's not a marble statue -- yes, there's anticipation of something wonderful to come, as opposed to just a pose. Now, if we could just teach that quality!

Adrienne, you live in an area dear to my heart. 1. It's Anne of Green Gables country (after she grew older and moved from PWI). 2. It's the original site of the Acadians, an incredible group of people in terms of keeping their traditions alive against the odds (of colonialism). 3. Halifax may well be the most environmentally conscientious community in the world, banning public use of fragrance and phasing out the use of commercial pesticides on lawns. 4. My dearest ever ballet teacher founded Halifax's ballet company many years ago. Beautiful country you hail from.