Pas de Deux

Pas de Deux is French for “Step for Two.”  It has traditionally been used to describe dancing with a partner in the art of ballet.  In ballet, with the support of a male partner, the woman can take positions that she would not be able to assume by herself.  As the man lifts the danseuse, she appears to be able to jump higher, turn longer in a promenade and float across the stage above his lifts.

I was first introduced to the term Pas de Deux as a young teen when asked to critique, in a poem, the balcony scene from a Romeo and Juliet ballet production.  I gained an appreciation for the dance and, of course, the story.

Even though the term Pas de Deux is traditionally and typically used to describe partnering in ballet, it can also apply to other dance genres.  Here are some examples of the Pas de Deux in the genres of Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Break Dancing.

Hip Hop Pas de Deux

Contemporary Pas de Deux

Break Dancing Pas de Deux

And since we are approaching the holiday season, I included a stunning Pas de Deux performed by Miyako Yoshida as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Steven McRae as her prince from the Royal Ballet production of The Nutcracker.

Each dance style is striking and passionate.  

Each with distinction. 

All with magnificence.   

Begrudgingly,

BB

 

Breaking Down Ballet

Now that Black Swan starring Natalie Portman is on cable, more people than ever are being exposed to the art of the dance of ballet.  Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky, presents the same type of character depth and story intensity as his 2008 movie,  The Wrestler, with Mickey Rourke. 

In Black Swan, Portman’s character, Nina Sayers, balances a line between reality and insanity as she strives towards perfectionism in her pursuit of and ultimate portrayal of the White Swan and its counter, the passionate Black Swan from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." 

Vincent Cassel plays the role of Thomas Leroy, the brilliant, yet hugely egotistic artistic director.  Through the movie, he explains the story of Swan Lake and describes the emotional state of the White Swan and the Black Swan – which Portman’s character internalizes to the point of madness. 

See the movie and you’ll never watch a ballet quite the same way again.

You can download the MP3 tracks from any of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" Acts via this link.  

Below are some live performances that you may not want to miss.

The New York City Ballet is now performing The Nutcracker at the David H. Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center, followed by Romeo and Juliet later in the season.  And in an encore performance, Paul McCartney’s Ocean’s Kingdom, orchestrated by Andrew Cottee and choreographed by Peter Martins will be back this January.  You can click here to review a program description and order tickets for Ocean's Kingdom.

Ballet Chicago is performing The Nutcracker at the Athenaeum Theatre and Balanchine Masterworks this spring at The Harris Theatre for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

The San Francisco Ballet is performing John Cranko’s Onegin, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker this season at The War Memorial Opera House.

At the Academy of Music, the Pennsylvania Ballet is performing Russian Suite and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker featuring the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra.

The Pacific Northwest Ballet is performing Love Stories, The Nutcracker, and Don Quixote at the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall this season.

The Miami City Ballet performing at the Adrienne Arsht Center, has an extensive line up this fall with Square Dance, World Premiere Ballet, Giselle, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Afternoon of a Faun, In the Night, Liturgy, Ballet Imperial, and In the Upper Room.

Enjoy the season.

Begrudgingly,

BB

Beauty in a Day

I spent my Sunday this week in Lambertville, a small town nestled on the east bank of the Delaware River.  It was cool and sunny, perfect for driving down the garden state to see fall foliage.  I brought my little Cyber-shot camera to take pictures if the spirit moved me.  I did randomly snap photos here and there during the day.  But, when I got back home and clicked through the images, I was just amazed at the beauty in a day.

  

 

                                                    

                 

                                                

Simple things that I would have overlooked took on patterns.  Shapes flowed together and politely paid each other compliments.  Maybe it was just how the afternoon stars were aligned, but everywhere I looked, I was surrounded by beauty – in a day.

Begrudgingly,

BB

The Kindness of a Curator

Today, I was checking the Internet to see what exhibits are currently at the MOMA.  I perused the work of several artists and stopped on some paintings by Bill Traylor.  In the midst of my familiarity and appreciation for Traylor’s work, what instantly came to mind was my introduction to his story and his work – brought to me by the kindness of a curator. 

Last year, I was visiting the Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff in Atlanta to see an evening play.  I had some time before the play started, so I ordered dinner at the Arts Center restaurant, Table 1280.  There happened to be a reception that evening in the same lounge where I was having dinner.  While sipping a dry Cabernet, I admired the elegance of this group for whom the reception was in honor. I listened in on a conversation or two about music, the arts, endowments and installations.  It turns out that these were scholars of the arts and curators and directors of the High Museum of Art.

At one point, one of the curators who had been honored that evening stepped to the bar to have her drink refreshed.  Having some knowledge of her accomplishments from the evening’s speeches, I congratulated her on her recent installation in the Rita Richman Gallery and told her that I was in Atlanta for a couple of days and was seeing a play that evening.  She gave me her card and invited me for a tour inside the High Museum the next day.

I thoroughly enjoyed the play, The Nacirema Society, that evening.  The next day, I headed back downtown to the Woodruff Arts Center’s High Museum where I was given a private tour with this extraordinary woman who I met the evening before.  She walked me through the gallery gifting me with her knowledge of ancient and contemporary art. 

We stopped at a Bembe mask from the Republic of Congo, where she described it being used in initiation rituals by the powerful Alunga men’s organization.  She detailed the eyes of the mask painted white, indicating supernatural vision.   

    

                                         

She stopped by several carved figures and explained their history, origin, and significance – like this 19^th century Lobi sculpture called “Seated Figure,” carved to protect individuals and the community.

She was knowledgeable and passionate as she described the technique of contemporary artist, El Anatsui’s, metal cloth sculpture.  

She explained that we were looking at bits of aluminum from the necks and tops of discarded liquor bottles woven together. 

She used the motion of her arms to describe the motion of the sculpture with its deep folds and bands of color.

When my tour concluded, I found myself at the top of a stairway.  I think she noticed that I couldn’t keep my eyes off this amazing black, glass chandelier that hung above the stairs.  So, she shared with me the history of that chandelier, too. 

Thank you, Carol, for sharing your knowledge and your kindness…

Begrudgingly,

BB

Wine Review I - Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignons are among the most popular red wine varieties in the world.  They are dry and full flavored, commonly described with essences of berry, currant, herbaceous, bell pepper, and oak.  Cabernet Sauvignons have high tannin content and high alcohol levels which can make a young bottle taste harsh.  As this wine matures, the flavors remain complex, but smoothen out. 

Because Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold and assertive wine, it can overwhelm light delicate dishes.  And, the high alcohol levels don’t pair well with spicy foods.  Cabernet Sauvignons pair best with grilled meats, steaks and dishes with cream sauces, as they neutralizes the tannins, allowing the fruits of the wine to be more noticeable. 

Today, I am recommending two California Cabernet Sauvignons – Napa Valley’s Turnbull and Central Coast’s Cupcake.

Turnbull is one of my all-time favorites.  The wine I am having today is a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is dark and very, very smooth.  It opens with black cherry and currants and ends with the richness of oak.  Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and velvety.  It will be perfect with tonight’s grilled steaks.  My 2007 bottle was $40.  If you can find it, also try the 2001 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon.  That was a great year for Cabernet Sauvignons coming out of Napa Valley - and the Turnbull is especially smooth.

The second California Cabernet Sauvignon I recommend is Cupcake Vineyard’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.  It's a fantastic bargain at $8 to $10 a bottle.  This wine brings to the palate, flavors of blackberry and cassis.  I also detect a peppery essence in Cupcake's Cabernet Sauvignon.  It’s a great wine to stock up on for gatherings with friends or afternoons on the back deck.  I find this wine to be better when chilled. 

            

I hope that you enjoy these California Cabernet Sauvignon selections as much as I do.

Begrudgingly,

BB

Korean Festival at Overpeck Park

There is nothing better than the combination of good food, good music and good weather.  I’ve hit the Crawfish Festival, the Garlic Festival, the River Blues Festival and even the Shad Festival.  Today, I went to the Korean Festival. Traditionally held in New York, the festival was moved to the new Overpeck Park in NJ this year because of the huge turn-out that was expected.  

We got about 4 blocks from the festival park ground when we figured out that it would be smarter - and quicker - to circle the highway back home and grab our bikes to ride back down.  It was a beautiful day for a bike ride anyway.

There were vendors selling everything from music CDs to shoes to jewelry, plus every kind of Korean food you could dream of.  On my way to the scallion pancakes that I had been craving all day, I stopped to watch a wresting competition and a parade of traditional Korean musicians. 

          

Then, I caught a kimchi preparation demonstration. (Kimchi is a spicy, fermented cabbage served with most Korean meals.)

And, even though I could not get close enough to the main stage to see them, I heard the live sets from superstar Korean pop bands, TVXQ and Beast.

So, I sat at a table under a beautiful blue, kite-filled sky, listed to great music from bands that were new to me, and enjoyed my scallion pancakes and cold tea to wash it down.

It was well worth the bike ride.

Begrudgingly,

BB

Look Who's Puzzled

[If you haven’t read my last blog, Puzzled, posted on 10/3, read that one first and come back.]

In my last blog post, I shared a short story that I wrote called Puzzled.  The story is told from a voice that is confused and saddened as she realizes that the world as she knew it didn’t exist anymore.  The story explores the dark depths of the character as she works her way through her despair. 

The story progresses with the character gradually making it through her hopelessness and once again relishing the simple pleasures in her life.  At the end of the story, readers are surprised when they think this depth and detail of depression was rooting itself in the little girl, Gracey. 

But the voice of the story is not Gracey’s.

Here are some excerpts to provide hints as to who's voice it is: 

--  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  -- --  --  -- 

    Today, my world is hard.

I close my eyes and wish that my dull brown day would leave me. 

     Does he not sense this nothingness?

Let this brown stiffness give way to the soft blue light of day.

I succumb to the shadow and allow it to embrace me… to hold me still and quiet.

      A large shadow makes its way over me.

I am frozen under the shadow that reaches down towards me from beyond.

    A strong current of air blows through my hair and then settles.

    In amazement, I stare at the old cottage, again standing before me.

The brown hardness is to my right and left, but behind me.

Eventually, those things that are familiar to me will return.

The hard background that had surrounded me allowed the sunshine back in – even
guided it with an outline.

[Did you figure out who the voice belongs to?]

Begrudgingly,

BB

Puzzled

[I share with you a short story I wrote called Puzzled…]

Where is grass that lies beneath my feet and tickles my toes? Where is the blue sky that I gaze upon when I daydream about marching daisies and candied tulips? Where is the old cottage that whispers to me when the wind blows through it? Where is the ladybug that sits on the third petal of the third daisy in the garden?

Today, my world is hard and I miss what I have come accustomed to seeing and smelling and enjoying. I miss what I have grown to know and I close my eyes and wish that my dull brown day would leave me. Please, give light to my sunshine.

My little black puppy frolics about biting and taunting the laces of my boots, as he so loves to do. How can he be so unfazed by this darkness that surrounds us? Does he not sense this nothingness? How such a simple thing like a leather boot lace can bring him so much joy, I don’t understand. But secretly I wish that I could find contentment and joy in such a simple thing.

In desperation I plead, “Please deliver me from this fog. Open my mind and allow the light back into my world, my life! Let me smell the tall grass and feel the sting of the caterpillars that fall from the trees. Let me taste thick, hardened sap from pinecones and whistle with acorn tops. Let this brown stiffness give way to the soft blue light of day.”

My body falls, then my eyelids fall and I succumb to the shadow and allow it to embrace me… to hold me still and quiet.

As I sit still in the darkness, the air around me becomes cold. A large shadow makes its way over me. My somberness turns to fear as my brown world becomes black from the shadow. The depression and sadness that had overtaken my life had just gotten worse. Darker. And I couldn’t help but wonder if I had done something to summons this blackness, this desperation, this depression.

My breath is short and my heart screams as panic sets in. I want to run but am frozen under the shadow that reaches down towards me from beyond. As I tighten my jaw and close my eyes tight, I feel my body tensing.

A strong current of air blows through my hair and then settles. With a dreadful foreboding I slowly open my eyes.

In amazement, I stare at the old cottage, again standing before me, that whispers when the wind blows through it.

The brown hardness is to my right and left, but behind me – and I head towards the cottage. I notice now the yellow patterns that peek from beneath the white paint chips on the walls, as I approach the front steps.

Again, I am taken back with a fierce gust of wind followed by a black cloud. I kneel and take cover holding the back of my head in both hands.

Not knowing what to expect, I release my head and turn to find a ladybug sitting on the third petal of the third daisy in the garden, next to the cottage.

Again – harsh winds and darkness – again and again, but I learn to not fear it and I hold on to myself finally understanding that all I have to do through the darkest of times is keep breathing… breathing… and that eventually, those things that are familiar to me and happy for me, will return.

I sit back in the grass and let the blades tickle my toes. I am elated that the hard, brown background that had surrounded me earlier had allowed the sunshine back in – even guided it with an outline.

My breath is not just for the purpose of getting by, but to breathe the beauty of the flowers. I listen to my puppy nipping and barking at my laces until…

I am suddenly startled by voice that seems to come from far away, but is still booming.

“Gracey…  I’m glad that you were able to put your country cottage puzzle together by yourself. But please put it away now. It’s time for dinner.”

[Were you surprised by the narrator of the story?  Stay tuned to the next blog, when I reveal who the speaker really is…]

Begrudgingly,

BB