March Madness Dance Off 'It's a bit Saucy......and Serious!'

As March draws to a close so must the March Madness Dance Off, so tonight we have our final two categories; something saucy and something serious.

First up is the 'It's a bit Saucy!' category and the nominees are:

Cabaret - Bob Fosse 1972
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri980SMAP7A

Showgirls - Paul Verhoeven 1995
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRbUSIRV6i4

Make It Happen - Darren Grant 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8bPVF-wl4

Burlesque - Steve Antin 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2r_8l1c2nQ

Best Burlesque/Showgirl Film

• Cabaret
• Showgirls
• Make it Happen
• Burlesque

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And Finally.........'Best Dance Documentary'

 The nominees are:

Rudolf Nureyev - Patricia Foy 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itTtGTQqKlY

Armagosa - Todd Robinson 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkIS6_nIEtQ

Ballet Russes - Daniel Geller and Danya Goldfine 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3E9yi90I1k

La Danse: Le ballet de l'opera de Paris - Frederick Wiseman 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9khElEVt-Q

Only When I Dance - Beadie Finzi 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlL2_4IbhIs

Best Dance Documentary

• Rudolf Nureyev
• Armagosa
• Ballet Russes
• La Danse
• Only When I Dance

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OK, that about rounds it up; I hope you've had fun and perhaps even discovered some new films amongst the old favourites. As for me.............

 ..........Jeeves! Chardonnay STAT!

Ballet Bitch xx

March Madness Dance Off 'Battle of the Ballet Films'

Well, we're bringing out the big guns tonight for the 'Battle of the Ballet Films', in a week that has seen more 'Black Swan' controversy and perhaps the most hilarious DVD launch of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ87Yd5z02I

It seems only fitting to let the classic ballet films fight it out. The nominees are:

The Red Shoes - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger 1948
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFcOqyWBKYg

The Turning Point - Herbert Ross 1977
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2sUO3IeoJI

White Nights - Taylor Hackford 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqUzTqdChNs

Dancers - Herbert Ross 1987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsihnKFXTFw

Center Stage - Nicholas Hyter 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6G-2jnVkIg

The Company - Robert Altman 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYx_lXRPdhM

One Last Dance -Lisa Niemi 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWspG0fCNyc

Black Swan - Darren Aronofsky 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs

Best Ballet Film

• The Red Shoes
• The Turning Point
• White Nights
• Dancers
• Center Stage
• The Company
• One Last Dance
• Black Swan

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Get voting; this should be an interesting one!


BB xx

March Madness Dance Off 'Fake Ballerina' Category

Given the stories breaking today about another 'Black Swan' drama (we've already had the Rodarte Tutugate), namely that Portman's  body double is allegedly spitting feathers (Boom! Boom!) about the lack of credit she received, it seemed the perfect time to announce the 'Best Portrayal of a Ballerina by a Non-Dancer' category; also known as the 'Cankles and Sickled Feet' award. Ohhh, saucer of milk for me!

Given that me and my postoperative hip have not had the best week (it had pretty much been a text book recovery up to this point, but now have suspected Bursitis) I'm not sure how karmically wise this post is; but what the hell lets be just a tad bitchy, have a giggle and wallow in the 'pool of smugness'.

And the nominees are:

Anne Bancroft - The Turning Point 1977
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2sUO3IeoJI

Anne-Marie Duff -Margot 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYR9Fi5RKRE

Lea Michele - Glee 2010 (Season 1, Episode 17 'Bad Reputation') 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7uDs3uihVM

Natalie Portman - Black Swan 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ekWWP0dQZM

I'll apologise in advance in case the Glee clip disappears; there's been a few on youtube but Fox/Sony take them down on a regular basis, probably to save the poor girl's blushes. It is worth seeking out though; her Pointe Work is quite something to behold! Meow!

Best 'Fake Ballerina'

• Anne Bancroft
• Anne-Marie Duff
• Lea Michele
• Natalie Portman

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All together now "Good Toes, Naughty Toes.......


Ballet Bitch xx

March Madness Dance Off 'Leotard and Legwarmers'

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to the '1980's Leotard and Legwarmers/It's a Dancer's Life' category. 

I know a lot of you have been eagerly awaiting this one, and there are some big titles waiting to battle it out; so without further ado the nominees are:

All That Jazz - Bob Fosse 1979 (technically not an 80's film, but on the cusp and there are legwarmers!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74Pae3PpMo

Xanadu - Robert Greenwald 1980

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhANgjGLDsE

Fame - Alan Parker 1980

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsnQ8p-BVmQ

Flashdance - Adrian Lyne 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj7LQrnRDR0

Staying Alive - Sylvester Stallone 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEhzjIjmICM

Footloose - Herbert Ross 1984

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaaYU-lZ3ac

A Chorus Line - Richard Attenborough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNK1-P-ZA14

Best 'Leotard and Legwarmers' Film

• All That Jazz
• Xanadu
• Fame
• Flashdance
• Staying Alive
• Footloose
• A Chorus Line

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"DON'T POP THE HEAD, CASSIE!"




BB xx

March Madness Dance Off 'Ballroom Blitz'

Well here we are for round two, this time it's the 'Ballroom' flicks that will be 'facing the music'; did you see what I did there; Seamless!

So just a few little notes before we get started. I ummed and aarhhed about including Dirty Dancing 2; it's pretty much a sequel in name only (although Swayze does have cameo role) so I feel it should be judged as a separate entity from the original film. I was also a little undecided about 'Naked Tango', as technically it's about 'Argentine' rather than 'Ballroom' Tango and also has a tendency to veer towards soft porn from time to time; but what the heck, let's throw caution to the wind!
And finally 'Shall We Dance' was remade in 2004 by Peter Chelsom, starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon; it's a very enjoyable film, but I have chosen to include the original Japanese version, as I feel the narrative works better set within Japanese Society.

And the nominees are:

Dirty Dancing - Emile Ardolino 1987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95IlLCfg8_g

Naked Tango - Leonard Schrader 1990
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITfiivBnIMU

Strictly Ballroom - Baz Luhrmann 1992
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtfxf3FFx4

Shall We Dance - Masayuki Suo 1996
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWEhPYwuY4

Dance With Me - Randa Haines 1998
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9-9uvi1iQ0

Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights - Guy Ferland 2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBGEbEqQAsY

Take The Lead - Liz Friedlander 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yWRRvTBUz4

Best Ballroom Film

• Dirty Dancing
• Naked Tango
• Strictly Ballroom
• Shall We Dance
• Dance With Me
• Dirty Dancing 2
• Take The Lead

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Cast your vote and spread the word!


BB xx

Welcome to the March Madness Dance Off!

Let's get ready to Rumble!

Well Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant! to you all and welcome to the March Madness Dance Off. Admittedly it's been quite a day for the arts, first the sad news about the death of Jane Russell this morning and then the dismissal of John Galliano from the House of Dior following his very strange and unacceptable behaviour; designers at the helm of the big fashion houses are under such enormous pressure these days that I do wonder if Galliano is experiencing some mental health problems as his behaviour has been so extraordinary.

Anyway let's lighten the mood and cheer ourselves up with some fabulous dance clips and the inaugural vote for the March Madness Dance Off.

Ladies and Gentlemen the first category is 'Best Dance Routine with a Comedy Prop' and the nominees are:

Fred Astaire  'Sunday Jumps' - Royal Wedding 1951
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pjlrrMvdtw

'Who Will Buy?' - Oliver! 1968
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqiuKXHk6tM

'Fit as a Fiddle' - Singin' In The Rain 1952
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0Y1wwnM49k

'The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat' - The Gang's All Here 1943
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVvf2wRhh9k&feature=fvst

And a last minute entry; Jane Russell, a gymnasium full of chaps and two badminton rackets:

'Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1953
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPuT0k4Zdog

RIP Miss Russell

Hat stands, bananas, fiddles and market garden items; plenty to choose from there!

Best Dance Routine with a Comedy Prop

• Sunday Jumps
• Who Will Buy?
• Fit as a Fiddle
• The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat
• Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?

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OK Chaps, Chocks Away!


BB xx