April 13, 2011
(CNN) -- In Kenya's giant Mathare slums poverty and crime are widespread. But youngsters there are getting a chance to realize their potential -- by learning ballet.
Mathare, in Nairobi, may seem like an unlikely place for ballerinas in training, but around 40 students living in the tough neighborhood take beginner lessons once a week with instructor Mike Wamaya.
"It's new and it's what they like," Wamaya explained. "And it's what they never believe they could have ever done."
The instructor says learning ballet could help change these children's lives.
"It's a chance for kids from slums to learn how to dance ballet, even if just basics -- a chance to be yourself and a chance to interact and express yourself in an artistic way," he continued.
Read more of the article at CNN.com
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
DanceQuote18
"Minor things can become moments of great revelation when encountered for the first time."
-Margot Fonteyn
-Margot Fonteyn
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Benefit performance
Please pass on/share this information to anyone that might be interested in attending this student choreographic workshop by fellow students of the contemporary track, accompanied by some really fantastic musicians... or if you are in the area, come see the show!
Monday, April 4, 2011
DanceQuote 17
"People tend to look at dancers like we are these little jewels, little cardboard cut-outs, and yet we have blood and guts and go through Hell."
- Susan Jaffe
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Back to it!
Well, Spring Break is over now! *Hahemmm* Technically, not quite, but nearly. I am back at the apartment (and as you can see my computer is no longer having problems signing in to blogger now - yay!) I really needed every second of the break, but I am so ready now to go back and gladly embracing the idea to be back to the apartment, the city, public transit, etc! :-) Ha - couldn't say that earlier this now almost past week!
Anyway, it is an ABSOLUTELY STUNNING afternoon here! The whole skyline driving back in today was crystal clear and blue with scanty little white puffy clouds dotting about here and there. It's so sunny and warm directly in the sun, out of it, you'd better have a jacket/coat. But still, Spring is on its way (maybe)! Hard to believe it's already April now. I had to laugh on April Fools - we woke to completely white surroundings - trees and everything else completely coated in snow. It snowed most of the day!
So I get to lazily enjoy the afternoon!! Yay! (Always enjoy freedom while it lasts.) The sun is shining, it's early, I'm at the apartment with not much to do except stretch, listen to music or whatever else. Already went and came back from Trader Joe's, so I can check that off until next week. Time to relax before a long hard week ahead! Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. :-)
Anyway, it is an ABSOLUTELY STUNNING afternoon here! The whole skyline driving back in today was crystal clear and blue with scanty little white puffy clouds dotting about here and there. It's so sunny and warm directly in the sun, out of it, you'd better have a jacket/coat. But still, Spring is on its way (maybe)! Hard to believe it's already April now. I had to laugh on April Fools - we woke to completely white surroundings - trees and everything else completely coated in snow. It snowed most of the day!
So I get to lazily enjoy the afternoon!! Yay! (Always enjoy freedom while it lasts.) The sun is shining, it's early, I'm at the apartment with not much to do except stretch, listen to music or whatever else. Already went and came back from Trader Joe's, so I can check that off until next week. Time to relax before a long hard week ahead! Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. :-)
Here's Looking At You, Natasha
Interview by Wendy Perron, Dance Magazine
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| Natalia Markova rehearsing La Bayadere with ABT in 1980. Photo by Dina Makaroff |
"One of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, Natalia Makarova defected from the Soviet Union in 1970. Known for her passionate dancing and poignant sense of surrender, she could also be strong and sexy onstage. She danced with American Ballet Theatre from 1970 to 1988 and guested with The Royal Ballet and many other companies the world over. She performed leading roles in the classics, winning particular praise for her Odette/Odile and Giselle. She also performed ballets by Ashton, MacMillan, Béjart, and Petit, and Jerome Robbins created Other Dances (1976) for her and Baryshnikov. In 1983 she branched out into musical theater and won a Tony for her role in On Your Toes.
When she staged the Shades scene of La Bayadère on ABT in 1974, it was dubbed “Makarova’s miracle” by Arlene Croce of The New Yorker. In 1980 she set the full ballet on the company, thus expanding our knowledge of the great Petipa story ballets. Since then she has set it on 13 other companies.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary since her defection and the 30th anniversary of her Bayadère, we compiled a photo collage of “Natasha’s” ballet career, accompanied by Wendy Perron’s interview with her."
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