Sulcas makes a funny

[Ray]

In today's NY Times, Roslyn Sulcas reviews Lawrence Goldhuber's Trellis (Goldhuber is a Bill T. Jones alum). In describing the surprisingly balletic movements of the female dancer in the dance, Sulcas quips, "Is ballet supposed to signify annoying personality traits?"

[Leigh Witchel]

She's not pulling that out of thin air. Many years ago, Tere O'Connor did a piece where the unhappy characters were the ones who did classical ballet. It's a shorthand for some choreographers for rigidity and closed-mindedness.

[bart]

Years ago the music played in my gym included many repetitions of a song in which a ballet girl lost her boyfriend (a "skater boy") because her friends were snooty about his clothes and style. I just Googled the lyrics:

He wanted her, she'd never tell

secretly she wanted him as well,

but all of her friends stuck up their nose

they had a problem with his baggy clothes.

He was a skater boy, she said see ya later boy

he wasn't good enough for her

She had a pretty face, but her head was up in space

she needed to come back down to earth.

five years from now, she sits at home

feeding the baby

she's all alone

she turns on tv

guess who she sees

skater boy rockin' up MTV

[ ... ] now he's a super star

slammin' on his guitar

does your pretty face see what he's worth?

sorry girl but you missed out

well tuff luck that boys mine now

[ ... ] too bad that you couldn't see

that man that boy could be

there is more than meets the eye

I see the soul that is inside.

Apparently ballet girls also stand accused of snobbism, superficiality, bad judgment, and willingness to submit to conventional social pressure. I love the punishment the lyricist has chosen: single mom stuck in the house with the baby, having to watch the world pass her by on tv. No suggestion that she might actually be dancing for a living, and loving it.

[Hans]

No, ballet isn't a real job like being a pop singer.

[Kathleen O'Connell]

No, ballet isn't a real job like being a pop singer.

That's exactly what Mick Jagger thought

Me and Nureyev have flaming rows about whether it takes more talent and discipline to be a ballet dancer or a pop singer. He used to put me down a lot, but I think I've converted him.

- Mick Jagger, 1972

More Mick as Mover quotes here: MICK'S BODYTALK | MICK JAGGER: THE GREATEST PERFORMER IN HISTORY