BW

Thank you Mel, you font of history both ballet and other! I have seen Balanchine's version several times and have to admit that I'm in love with it. We saw a Russian version last year, out at SUNY Purchase, which we thought was pretty disappointing... and then I used to take my daughter, when she was little, to a performance put on at Purchase by their youth ballet. and dance corps along with a guest dancer or two. So far NYCB's and the Balanchine version that is performed in Stamford, CT with a mixture of SAB, area ballet students and principals from ABT and NYCB are my favorite...however I would love to see this "original".

Having just read one of the links posted today about Nutcrackers in the San Francisco Bay area...I was rather surprised to read that the SFB's version is "the first and oldest...ever presented in the United States." To read the article go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...07/DD157176.DTL Is this writer correct in the pronouncement of United States' Nutcracker history? :eek:

I like this caveat...and hope they find their way soon!

For those of us who need some help with our "foreign" languages, here is a great site! You can have the web page translated, as well. http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr

Good points, vrsfanatic, in re the teenage psyche and its sensitivity! Isn't it odd how ballet school can be such a microcosm of life? Although I am sure some lives are better than others.;) As for the teacher's feelings - I would NEVER want to be in their shoes, when that teenaged sensitivity turns to ciriticsm!

Very interesting discussion. Thank you for posting on this. I am wondering if there may be a way to read these articles in English? Perhaps there is a translation function somewhere? I'm sure you, Estelle and Katharine, don't have enough time to do it all! It certainly does sound as though there is more to the complaint than a tough teacher or two.

Thanks Mel, the voice of reason as ever! Not being a dancer, but watching my daughter who is a ballet student, I can attest to the fact that she does very little to her new pointe shoes... a little bending that's it.

You know, I didn't even notice the cover today when I bought it! I really hate that little flap they put on the outside that lists what they think are the good stories - when did they start doing that? Why spoil those great covers?! Was that a Tina idea? I read the article - it was interesting and I got a few good chuckles out of it too. Time will tell, eh? P.S. Thanks Calliope for noticing that EZR way through!

Should be interesting to read...but there's an awful lot of controversy about these shoes in general - most teachers of ballet that I've met or spoken with don't like them for their students. I suppose it could be different for the professional dancer...but many of these dancers don't care for them either. Then again, maybe they've "improved" them?

Wow! I don't know anything about Laura Jacobs, but boy does she hate Twyla Tharp!:rolleyes: If anyone ever thought Jennifer Homans was tough on NYCB or Peter Martins - they ain't seen nothin' yet! Yikes! I really can't comment as I'm not sure that I've really seen Ms. Tharp's work...though I must have, mustn't I? Ms. Jacobs certainly goes for the jugular.

You are pretty funny, dirac and Leigh!

Oh good Nanatchka! I look forward to your description of "Movin' Out"! Re the Billy Joel/Vietnam connection and his coming of age during that period of time... I hadn't thought about it from that point of view. How old is Billy J.? I am on the "young" side of actually coming of age during Vietnam, although I marched against it locally, carrying a lighted candle down to the Quaker Meeting House in our town...not really having a decent knowledge of what the "conflict" was about...but when I think of that era, to me, the music that comes to mind is the music one hears in the movies "Coming Home," "The Deer Hunter" and, of course, "Apocalypse Now" because those were the songs that were playing at the time of the Vietnam war. In thinking about it from your point of view, I suppose you are right that the music listened to by these young soldiers, as they came of age, may well have been more in keeping with Billy Joel's style of music...as opposed to the music they fought with. Again, I'm looking forward to your review.

Interesting to read - had vaguely thought of trying to see "Movin' Out"...but don't think I will make the attempt now. Actually never knew what the theme of the musical was supposed to be. Billy Joel doesn't really go with the 60's coming of age or the Viet Nam war in my opinion, either. Her juxtaposition of the two choreographers was interesting to read. I have seen Contact, didn't want to see the new version of Oklahoma... I also read the older article she wrote about the "crisis" in ballet - titled "Steps, Steps, Steps - in which, rather than skewering NYCB, as some might say she did in the NY Times earlier this year, Ms. Homans takes the ballerinas of ABT to task instead...after a history lesson. I don't know if this article was discussed earlier or not...I suppose I should go back in cyber time and take a look because I would think it must have roused some posts. I'll be waiting to see if any others care to comment on this writer's views of Stroman's and Tharp's "history" and choreography.

Yes, thank you Jack - I, too, really enjoyed ready your piece. And Farrell Fan, that Balanchine quote is a good one! Thanks.

In reading Treefrog's thread "various random thoughts" and, specifically, Alexandra's most recent post where she writes That's really what I attend the ballet for - so I can "enter into that magic world of supsension of belief"... And if it's not a story ballet, it's still a transport to the magic world. Thank you Alexandra - very beautifully put.

Alexandra's question "There's also the question of which context do we use?" is a good one. Wouldn't it be helpful if the notes in the ballet programs were a bit more insightful in giving the audience more of this sort of background? Fortunately, I know there are some very good books around that can aid those of us who really don't know much, but would like to... Treefrog, great first date story!

Oh yes, Alexandra, I knew what you meant and I know what that kind of destiny is about...and the three Fates, the Oracle of Delphi and all that. I love mythology! The gods always come in handy for explaining the confusion of life. That being said, Odysseus was a much better hero than Siegfried, in my opinion... And what about that cad Albrecht? And what is the name of the fellow who falls in love with that sylph right before he's supposed to get married somewhere in Scotland? ;)

I'm with you Ari! Very funny, though I'm sure Alexandra is right blaming it all on Destiny - seems it's always a handy way out of, or into, life's little ups and downs. ;)

This sounds very exciting! I guess I really should buy a DVD player as everyone says the quality is so much better. Dale, thanks so much for this information - and your point is well taken when you write I experienced this last night on WNYE's production of "Bright Nights Big City". Really loved it.

No doubt - I believe you completely! It was just wishful thinking and envy on my part. If I were drinking a beer, I'd be crying in it for sure.

Mary J, thank you for the background information - it makes your story even better! I'm jealous of you, Mel and everyone else who's had such wonderful opportunities...but I love hearing about them. What's changed so much that we no longer have these "floods of publicity" nor the Bell Telephone Hour, and other types of performances on television - is it that our culture has changed so drastically? I know there are some who will say that we're long past that golden age of yore... but isn't it true that almost every generation thinks that theirs was the best of times? Just a little aside, here. ;)

Mary J - I think my sister may have been up there near you in '65! ;) But what made you decide to attend the ballet for the first time that night? For my sister, I'm sure it was the dansuer noble, himself.

That's right! I'd forgotten...now I remember the newspaper article about his restuarant. Have you been there Farrell Fan? I'm very impressed that you were on his show! I do have to confess that I never watched it...I was more into Million Dollar Movie and Claude Kershner's show. ;)

Ah yes, "Memory Lane" with Joe Franklin...but is he living, Watermill?;)

Daniella64, I was hoping that you'd have gotten more responses by now! I think that you might try posting this question on the Moms and DAds board and see if there are some parents who might have some more input for you. Perhaps title it something along the lines of "A University in Canada with a good ballet program?" or something like that? As a matter of fact, there is a new thread right now about colleges that asks for input. Good luck and let us know where you end up!