Coppelia

Black Swan Pas de Deux

For my senior-year performance, I danced the role of Odile in the Black Swan pas de deux of Swan Lake. Recently I've been thinking about the role and the ballet once again as I've been working on a poem off and on for some months about Odile. She's a tricky character to get right, both on the stage and in this poem. Perhaps watching the dance repeatedly will generate new sparks.

Added: American Ballet Theatre
Gillian Murphy as Odile, with Angel Corella
Marcello Gomes as Von Rothbart

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell

My father has said that this might be his favorite dance number from a musical, and I could easily concur. I could watch this clip over and over. Tap was never my strength as a dancer; I only studied it for a couple years, but I found it to be a tremendously fun (and challenging) dance form. I love the intricate sounds the shoes can make. In fact, I'm not sure I could listen to the song of this dance number without hearing the accompanying music made by Astaire and Powell, so intertwined are they now.

In Memoriam

Cyd Charisse, dancing star of such musicals as "Brigadoon" and "The Band Wagon," died yesterday.

I have fond memories of watching these musicals and others with my Dad in high school. Never mind the often silly, redundant plots and poor segues from talking to singing and dancing; the best musicals lightened my heart.

On a side note, seniors at my high school could get parking spots with short names spray painted over the spot (yes, I went to a pretentious high school, sometimes dubbed Gucci High). My spot said Cyd.

Here's a clip from "The Band Wagon."