S’awright
If you’re of a certain age, you may remember Señor Wences from the Ed Sullivan Show. I loved him, and would watch the show every Sunday night, always hoping he’d be on: Wences (real name: Wenceslao Moreno) had a pretty … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Dance
Ann Miller looked like a woman as a kid
Escapism. Watch about the first 13 minutes. Ann Miller lied about her age big time when she began her career, but she got away with it because she looked like a woman. She had a very protective mother to keep … Continue reading →
Raissa Struchkova: lightness and air
You won’t see anyone dancing in this style today. You may be glad of that, because it’s somewhat old-fashioned and mannered. But I love Struchkova, just love her. Her dancing is the essence of three things: lightness, charm, and speed. … Continue reading →
For the Fourth: He’s a Yankee Doodle Dandy
[NOTE: This is a slightly-edited repeat of a previous post.] I saw that film on TV maybe 30 times when I was a child. Loved it, and in particular loved the idea that James Cagney—whom I already knew as a … Continue reading →
A much-needed dance break
One of my favorite ballet dancers of all time, Maya Plisetskaya, with some enticing and energetic cultural appropriation. Circa 1959: I saw Plisetskaya in person right around the time this was filmed. She tore up the stage. I don’t think … Continue reading →
I had forgotten…
…that Bob Hope could dance like this. I prefer Cagney’s completely and utterly unique style, but Hope had impressive skills, too. And they get points from me for bravery, dancing on the table like this, and so relaxed!: This isn’t … Continue reading →
They laugh at gravity
There are women performers in Russian and Ukrainian folk dancing. But they’re really just decorative window-dressing. The men are the thing. And yes, they have ball bearings for knees, and springs in the soles of their feet. I first saw … Continue reading →
Don’t try this at home
But they did: Whoever planned and edited that did a fabulous job. I have to say, though, that this is not a form of dance that has ever especially appealed to me. I deeply admire the skill of those who … Continue reading →
Red tape and COVID-19
Some of the red tape surrounding the development of new treatments and tests for disease is designed to protect us from rushed and/or botched jobs. But some of it is the result of the natural tendencies of government agencies to … Continue reading →
Ulanova vs. all the other Juliets
Galina Ulanova was one of the most famous Russian dancers of the Soviet era. I saw her in person when I was very very young and she was close to 50 and nearing the end of her dancing days. She … Continue reading →
Nervous intensity
Speaking of the ballet “Agon” – and we were – I noticed this quote from the man cast in the original, Arthur Mitchell, about the qualities of his partner Diana Adams: Diana’s nervous intensity made the whole pas de deux … Continue reading →
Agon: no contest, no struggle
“Agon” is the name of a ballet choreographed by George Balanchine, with music by Stravinsky. It premiered in 1957 and was revolutionary at the time, but nowadays it doesn’t seem so strange. It featured a pas de deux between a … Continue reading →