Room Of Dancing Princesses

There is a saying that if you 'miss class for one day, you notice; miss class for two days, your colleagues notice; miss class for three days, your audience notices'; I have another saying that goes along the lines of 'pose pirouettes en manege the morning after a 2 am curry on Birmingham's Ladypool Road aren't a good idea', but that's another story.

Anyway I missed class on Wednesday as I wasn't feeling well (not a hip problem, just feeling a bit sick and nothing to do with a Vegetable Jalfrezi this time!) and on Friday (because I always feel things 48 hours later) I happened to innocently mention to Nigelinsky that I was feeling a bit stiff this week; I should have known by the evil glint in his eye what lay ahead; "Shall we do some Floor Barre?"

Well there's Floor Barre and there's Floor Barre; suffice to say yesterday my Intercostal Muscles where wondering if it was possible to veto all form of movement, including breathing, for the duration, and today my lower Abdominals are wondering if, at some point on Friday, they had some sort of Psychotic breakdown and accidentally decided to get into a Boxing Ring with Mike Tyson.

Still in the long run, my core stability salutes you; plus I'm trying to get #floorbarreisevil top trending on twitter, so feel free to join in.

Anyway onto something much more fun. I've been meaning to write about this exhibition for nearly a year; I can't believe how tardy I have been, but it is on till the beginning of January 2012, so there's still time to catch it.

http://www.hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace/stories/palacehighlights/enchantedpalace.aspx

It's an installation in Kensington Palace, and it's magical, breathtaking, spellbinding, otherworldly, melancholic and, at times, heart wrenching; a combination of art, history, fashion and theatre. My favourite room (perhaps not surprisingly) was The Room of Dancing Princesses, that paid tribute to Diana and Margaret; very beautiful and very poignant.

I went to this exhibition at the beginning of August last year (about two weeks before my Arthroscopy), with my Mother and my Godmother, it was a glorious day and after visiting the palace we had lunch on the terrace at The Orangery. As you can imagine I was rather nervous about my upcoming procedure, but it was such a lovely day and the exhibition had been so extraordinary that all my worries disappeared and I simply enjoyed the blue skies, perfectly manicured lawns and a glass of something chilled and pink!

Ahh, the healing power of Art......

Ballet Bitch xx

It's Never Too Late For Ballet Joy

If you subscribe to The Times, here's the link:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/article3039249.ece

If not I've been a tad sneaky and done this for you:

Clearly there's a bit of artistic/journalist licence with the Pointe Shoes (Pointe Work is achievable as an Adult Beginner but it takes time, strength and technique), however the magic of the tutu and satin shoes never fade.

I will leave you with this

https://vimeo.com/559223910

 

To quote Margot Fonteyn, 

“The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.”

BB xx

Make It or Break It - I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me

Let's have a quick medical update and then get down to some serious Ballet Bitchin'!

So, resting the hip good, but back in the studio last week and a few problems flared up, jury's out and it's a waiting game. My consultant has told me that it takes a year following the procedure till you see the final outcome/result and that's it's impossible to 'break' the repairs he's made, but it's frustrating, worrying and tedious in equals parts trying to find the balance between training and recovery.

But enough of the 'doom and gloom' lets have a giggle......

OK, I have a confession to make, one of my favourite guilty pleasures is the American teen drama 'Make It or Break It' that follows a group of Elite Gymnasts on their 'journey' to Olympic Gold.

PLEASE BEWARE I AM WATCHING THIS ON UK TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION SO I'M PROBABLY 3 MILLION SEASONS BEHIND THE STATES AND SKY I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF PEOPLE COULD RESTRAIN FROM SPOILERS! THANK YOU!

One of the programme's narrative arcs centres on Payson Keeler's (played by Ayla Kell) return from a serious injury (yes, all right Freud I can see why I'm attracted by this series); as a result of her injuries she has to retrain as a 'lyrical/artistic' gymnast, rather than the 'power' gymnast she always perceived herself to be if she wants to follow her Olympic Dream. < I'm filling up here!> Of course, Payson finds it hard to think of herself as lyrical and beautiful and graceful, insisting she is a strong, athletic, competitor. Her coach; Sasha Belov, in a bid to inspire her, takes her to see 'Flight of the Swan' a re-imagining of the Swan Lake story (insert your on Black Swan gag, 'cos I'm spent on that front), to show her that grace can be strong blah, blah, blah.......

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x53ibqq

Series 2 Episode 15: I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me - About 27.25 in

Fair enough I thought, I can imagine where this is going in a Matthew Bourne, Mats Ek, possible even a Guangdong Acrobatic Swan Lake way, but I was seriously not expecting that.


Lauren Gottlieb was a finalist on the American version of 'So You Think You Can Dance'


Ballet Bitch xx


PS For those of you in Blighty there's still the chance to catch up with some episodes from this season (this clip was taken from Series 2 Episode 15- I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me) via 4 OD:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/make-it-or-break-it

Everybody else, youtube, i-tunes, whatever else it is you do on the net or a good old fashioned Box Set, but be warned it's ridiculously addictive.

 

Ballet Bitch is Away

Given the recent turn of events with my hip (Grrrrrrr, text book recovery until two weeks ago) I will be resting for the next fortnight, visiting my Mama and catching up with some friends. So whether you picture that I look like this:

Or like this:

That's what I'll be up to!

Toodles,


BB xx

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