Comments on: Viva partnering, ballet, and la différence

By: Erica Jones

Erica Jones — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:58:35 +0000

Great article. As a ballet dancer for many years, I can appreciate such extensive thoughts on dance.

By: King Douglas

King Douglas — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:52:24 +0000

What a great article on partnering, which was my forte when I was a member of the Boston Ballet in the early 70′s. I can’t take issue with a single point you made.

Your point of view is beautifully expressed and insightful. I’d be interested to know more about your life and experience as a dancer/teacher. I did find the link to your small part in “The Turning Point” and understand that you are now a therapist–about which you also write lucidly. I’m interested because after retiring from ballet I went back to school for a degree in psychology.

I’m not a big follower of blogs, but I shall have to explore yours thoroughly as I get rewarded at every turn. Keep up the good work.

By: Tatterdemalian

Tatterdemalian — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:01:01 +0000

“The one thing that is sure to attract men of all ages. Really really beautiful and graceful women.”

Combined with the one thing that is sure to repel men of all ages. Really really beautiful and graceful men. In tights.

Spandex + lumps = disturbing.

By: neo-neocon

neo-neocon — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:55:30 +0000

Tom Grey: It was indeed “The Turning Point.” Not the greatest of movies, I’m afraid, although it was halfway decent. But Barishnikov is a wonderful dancer, and Ann Bancroft is always of interest (although she couldn’t even fake being a dancer effectively, IMHO).

I had a small—actually, an infinitesimal—role in that movie, you know. Read this:

http://neoneocon.com/2005/06/08/heres-to-you-anna-maria-louisa/

By: Tom Grey - Liberty Dad

Tom Grey - Liberty Dad — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:53:58 +0000

I “love dance” — and took many courses at university (USNA & Stanford):
Folk, Tap, Jitterbug, Ballroom, and Modern; as well as boxing and karate. While I like modern OK, and the hot hot babes, the flowing graceful “harmony” movements were a bit effeminate for me (since faggy is such a non-PC description). I recall one same-sex partner exercise where we decided to do more push-up / karate type moves. Most martial arts have a significant dance like set of movements which are more “oppositional”.
The teacher liked it, but I still stopped that course.

Wasn’t there a great movie about two women’s lives who had been rival young dancers, one who got married and had a young daughter beginning to dance, the other remaining a diva (once with 17? curtain calls) — perhaps The Turning Point?

It’s too bad the homosexual men are so dominant / pervasive in ballet. “Sleeping with Madonna” had some notes on this, too. I think the reality show dance competition will be good for getting more men interested in being better dancers.

By: Richard Aubrey

Richard Aubrey — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 03:08:10 +0000

Some years ago, I went to see a dance exhibition put on by a friend–the instructor.
The crowning piece was to “Bolero”. I asked her later how she’d manage to sweep the high school–that was the age of the performers–linebacker corps into dance.
“Oh,” she said, “they weren’t dancers. We had the girls bring in their boyfriends. We taught them to partner. That’s different. And you never noticed they weren’t dancing.”

I sure didn’t.

It was different from ballet. The guys were much bigger than their partners. That added some basic eroticism to the dance without a single hip sashay being thrown in.

IMO, they could have taken it on the road.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:02:52 +0000

I do remember you saying something to that effect before. One reason for my asking, since I suspected but was not sure.

I often have to get out what I’m thinking when the muse strikes, because often later I can think of nothing to write. (bad rhyming couplet?) Even using a few minutes for revision might change the flow. Which is why having a more or less error free first draft was such an important skill to try to acquire; it makes things a lot easier.

By: neo-neocon

neo-neocon — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 02:49:06 +0000

Ymar: I jotted down some general ideas for it close to the time I first read your post. But I didn’t actually compose it until the day I put it up on the blog.

That’s not an unusual process for me; I’ve got notes for about 100 unwritten-as-yet posts, mostly on topics known as “evergreens,” meaning they’re not tied into a current event and can be used on days when I don’t feel like writing about the news.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:56:30 +0000

I am curious about one more thing, Neo. When did you start writing this post, given that my post in question had been written awhile ago?

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 22:05:28 +0000

Thanks, Neo. The funny thing is, much of my interest in harmony comes from my interest in warfare, tactics, strategy, and leadership.

I love it when a plan comes together, to paraphrase the A-Team.

Beauty can be both serene and lovely, or magnificently destructive and shocking.

The light and the dark, both sides of the same face of existence.

Maybe I’m getting too metaphysical. I was always philosophical at heart.

I often despise and feel contempt for the Islamic Jihad. Their inability to accept the help of what would have been their other half, their partners, creates weaknesses that is not shown on their faces. It is shown on their souls. It is so easy to shatter the souls of those that lack the true essence of strength.