dirac

If Peck doesn't get much attention from this I'll regard it as karmic justice, given that his dances are replacing those of Robbins, who thought up the whole project in the first place. As I remember, the original movie of West Side Story was praised in just those terms, as being "more than a musical." I'm not sure how well known the property is these days, and they're probably trying to attract younger viewers who don't know WSS as a legacy show, so to speak, as well as people who do know its history.

Thanks to miliosr for the heads-up. Sorry to hear this, although 92 years is a good run. Obituaries and appreciations below. The New York Times Variety Newsweek i know Powell mainly from Royal Wedding, not being a huge fan of Seven Brides. She was a last minute replacement for Judy Garland and did a great job. Astaire noted, "She surprised everyone by her handling of the dances." Her rendition of "Too Late Now" is a highlight of the picture.

miliosr reports the sad news that Jane Powell, one of the last survivors of Hollywood's Golden Age, has died at age 92. Here are his comments:

Overwrought self-importance is a problem with the 1961 movie and both Spielberg and Kushner are more likely to double down on that rather than ease up on it. Neither man is known for his lightness of touch these days. Hope I’m wrong but this trailer does not inspire optimism.

Here's the trailer.

I follow the initial thinking. Richards was one of the better guest hosts and as he was already working there he'd be cheaper than a lot of the starrier names. But once this more recent stuff surfaced he was toast. I just hope Bialik doesn't get the regular gig. If Aaron Rodgers doesn't get back to form, maybe Green Bay will trade him.

And as a teacher as well. There's also a bio, it seems. From the Times obit:

Mazzo was absolutely on my wish list. I’d have like to have heard more from people who’ve been/had been interviewed less frequently, or haven’t/hadn’t written their own books. For example, I remember Richard Tanner had interesting things to say in “I Remember Balanchine.” Helgi Tomasson. Robert Weiss. And, yes, I’ll say it, Peter Martins, who had great things to say in the PBS documentary on Jerome Robbins with regard to the difference between working with Robbins and Balanchine. Kyra Nichols instead of Watts. Maybe even soloists who were in the company a long time without making it to principal, since this is about class, not the making of ballets. But I’ll reserve judgment till I see the movie, which I’m definitely looking forward to doing.

An item on the current exhibit at the Edward Gorey House in Cape Cod, with a photo of the house. th.

A preview of the new season in San Diego dance.

Lauren Lovette and Jamar Roberts talk about their transition to choreography full-time.

The National Ballet of China concludes its series of performances of Nureyev's "Don Quixote."

Thank you for the link, Cherilyn, Interesting reading. I'm a trifle disappointed by the movie's roster of leading interviewees but I'm sure they'll be worth hearing from. I suppose in Villella's case it will be "(Why I Wasn't) In Balanchine's Classroom."

I would say it's less a US-centric argument than an aesthetic one. Bejart not only didn't kill Farrell's career, he likely saved it, since no one else dared hire her. By her own admission she learned a lot from Bejart and committed herself to his work, but it's not necessarily pleasant to think of what might have happened to her as an artist had Balanchine not taken her back for what became the greatest phase of her career.

El Paso Ballet returns to live performance this month.

New faces at the Monte-Carlo Ballet.

Joan Harris, who doubled for Moira Shearer on the spiral staircase at the end of "The Red Shoes," died last year, aged 100. Related.

An exhibition of photographs by Mikhail Baryshnikov opens in Toronto this month.

The National Ballet of China revives Rudolf Nureyev's "Don Quixote."

The National Ballet of China presents Rudolf Nureyev's "Don Quixote."

Ballet Tucson returns to live performance in October.

A new movie is based on the story of Joy Womack.

A preview of Twin Cities Ballet's "Dracula."

A look at Cincinnati Ballet's new digs.

Orlando Ballet returns to the studio.