dirac

I read a couple of the news reports where the girls were reported to be from 7 to 9. I suspect that if the costumes were pastels or whites instead of red and black, and/or didn't reveal the midriff, there might be less fuss. Some of those moves wouldn't be out of place performed by girls roughly in the same age group at cheer competitions. There does seem to be some sort of national freakout going on over this and I begin to think it's a bit much, but that's the Internet and cable news for you. Which is not to dismiss ami1436's larger points. I doubt that in this instance the girls will be "harmed" in any way unless there is some damage done by the fallout from this video. The beauty pageant culture from whence sprang JonBenet has been with us for a long, long time.

Yes, JonBenet was even younger, six years old when she died.

cubanmiamiboy, we were posting at the same time, so I didn't see your reference to JonBenet. Great minds think alike, obviously.

I don't entirely disagree with you, papeetepatrick. You are right in that there is unlikely to be any long term harm to the girls and they were probably just getting a big kick out of it. But that doesn't mean it's right or appropriate or that the adults involved shouldn't know better. You have to draw that line somewhere. Although in a way it's no creepier than those old tapes of JonBenet Ramsey.

Thanks for posting, Jayne. I don't think there will be a wide range of opinions on this topic. The girls are fabulous and the costumes and moves are completely out of line. I wouldn't describe this as "mature" choreography - there are some kinds of "mature" choreography that would be okay for kids to try - but as sexually suggestive choreography and costuming, which is not appropriate.

It's not at all clear how much if any ballet will be in this movie, but for the record here's the trailer for The Adjustment Bureau, in which Emily Blunt plays a ballet dancer.

Thanks for that link. The song wasn't published till 1929, Wikipedia tells us, but that doesn't mean it could not have been performed earlier.

Yes, thanks for posting this, leonid. Very sad, in a way, although she had a long and seemingly happy life, because she takes that last piece of history with her. She doesn't seem to have claimed that the song was written for her but that she was the first to perform it - not quite the same thing. It could well be true.

Yes, indeed. It's hard to believe that Nutcracker was ever a Great Idea (when Balanchine began this trend, as he did so many others, so many of which have gone similarly wrong), and that's in spite of one of the world's great scores--for ballet or anything else. It's far too obviously an ordeal to be endured for most dancers and all orchestras playing it--and the non-Balanchine choreography of it is usually even more of an ordeal. Surely there could be SOME alternative? Cinderella? Tales of Beatrix Potter? ANYTHING???? It may be an ordeal for many ballet regulars, but for others who are not frequent balletgoers or who are bringing their children for their first experience of ballet it may still be very satisfying. Some companies are putting on Snow Queens or Cinderellas, but although those are less familiar they're not necessarily superior as aesthetic experiences. And people who come out every year for Nutcracker as a holiday tradition may not be similarly attracted by the alternate offerings. There have been seasons when I've taken a year off from Nutcracker and felt better for it. But even then I usually wind up watching Balanchine's Nutcracker on video.

Thanks for telling us your impressions, naomikage.

An interview about Gorey with editor Margaret Maloney that mentions the brief Internet life of the complete book (which is now back in print).

Murray reads Emily Dickinson to a group of .

I have no idea, Ray, but undoubtedly it's the first to depict Stravinsky humpin' and pumpin' atop Coco Chanel. I looked at that and thought, Oh, dear. But perhaps I am a bit old fashioned.

I thought I saw some pretty sweaty activity going on in that trailer.

Wow, snappy title. The original novel was called "Coco and Igor" in the manner of "Tom and Viv" and "Henry and June", but that makes them sound a little like a couple of Disney or Pixar characters, so perhaps the filmmakers thought it best to spell things out. The project sounds iffy, but there's sure to be nice costumes, great music, and interesting table lamps, so it will probably be worth checking out. Some years ago we had dueling movie Capotes and now we have dueling movie Chanels - Audrey Tautou's version (I liked her) came out last year. Thank you for the heads up, EvilNinjaX.

Thanks as always for these reports, Sandy.

Thanks for this, Mme. Hermine.

A lovely lady and wonderful singer. A biography came out last year.

The crowd always loves it. Every once in awhile some or other company has an onstage proposal. I imagine the guy doesn't chance it unless he's pretty sure of what the answer is going to be. Congrats to the happy pair!

Because it would be a dead bore, that's why. Even Roland Emmerich couldn't do much with that.

Good for him.

And Fulke Greville.

leonid, thank you so much for H.G. Wells' review. I did not know about it and encourage everyone to click on the link. Here's a sample quote:

Thanks to all for their links to these reviews, everyone, but I think we have enough to get the gist. "Irrationality" and "obsession" seems a mite harsh, although it certainly applied/applies in some cases. I don't think it applies to others, however, and blanket accusations of nutjobbery aren't very nice. Anyone who's dipped into academic Shakespearean commentary knows that the good professors aren't exactly immune to the speculative bug.

Yes, it may be the most plundered movie ever.