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Welcome to The Classical Girl, voted one of Feedspot’s Top Ballet Blogs. If you were drawn to this site it’s possibly for one of the following reasons: you’re interested in ballet; you like classical music, or you play the violin. Or maybe you just want to read something lively and intelligent, with twin  dollops of humor and philosophy. Want a sampler? Check out some of my more popular blogs below!

  1. Green Book and Chopin’s Stunning Étude
  2. 10 reasons those pointe shoes hurt
  3. Finnish perfection: the Sibelius Violin Concerto
  4. 10 odd facts about pointe shoes
  5. “Clair de Lune” and Ocean’s Eleven
  6. Ballet class in Paris: I dare you
  7. The world of million dollar violins
  8. Mystery revealed: Schubert’s Impromptu No. 3
  9. 10 reasons ballet dancers hate Black Swan
  10. Pianist Yuja Wang’s very short dresses and very big talent
  11. Ohad Naharin’s “Minus 16”
  12. Hansel & Gretel, “Abendsegen” and 14 angels

And now about my novels, published by Classical Girl Press

Welcome to the world of the Ballet Theatre Chronicles! Enjoy Off Balance, the first book of the series, for only 99 cents! The second book, Outside the Limelight, was named a Best Book of 2017 by Kirkus Reviews. Book 3,  Ballet Orphans, is a prequel to the series. My third novel, A Dancer’s Guide to Africa, connects Ballet Orphans in a fun way. Want to see how? You can get a copy for FREE right now on Amazon! Finally, the fourth and final Ballet Theatre Chronicles book, Other Stages, released on January 25, 2024. Welcome to the family, Other Stages!

Off-Balance-Web-Medium            Outside-the-Limelight-Web-Small                                  

Take a look around, enjoy, cross-pollinate. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can feature something performing arts related that you’d love to have more information on. Come visit me on my Classical Girl Facebook page, and if you prefer Twitter, my handle is @classicalgrrl — give me a follow and I’ll follow you back!

Thanks again for stopping by.

Regards,

The Classical Girl

49 thoughts on “Home”

    • Thank you, Mr. Rose. You are kind, indeed. Have you considered taking an adult beginning ballet class? I think you’d look fine in a pair of tights. Just maybe not the pink ones.

      -The Classical Girl

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  1. You know I’ve been a fangirl of your fiction, now I get to explore more of what makes your fiction so special: Music. Music interpreted through the body in the form of ballet. Music of the written word in storytelling. Music lives in you.

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    • Carolyn, you are such a poet! And thank you so much for stopping by and dropping a line. Yes, these music/dance musings really ARE me, aren’t they? Or wait, are they my characters, living eternally on in me, still speaking in me long after the story has been written? Hmmm. I’d have to say a little of both.

      Reply
  2. I would pay good money to see Mr. Rose in a ballet class! 😉 Not so much the tights though…
    But more so, I look forward to exploring this classical world with you!
    -LS

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    • Okay, I’m telling Mr. Rose this is money we’re talking here. Swing on by with your camera next time you’re in the neighborhood. : )

      Thanks so much for popping by my blog, and let me know if/when I can do the same for yours!

      Reply
  3. Thanks, Tara. And just for you, all-you-can-drink cyber-wine! Heck, for EVERYONE.

    I know. I know. I’m exceedingly generous.

    And exceedingly grateful for your stop-by. : )

    Reply
  4. What a classy blog for a classy writer! I’ll enjoy popping in…with a glass of wine. This blog just lends itself to fine wine. Cheers!

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    • Aww, thank you, for the nice comment, Shelby! I really enjoyed your site too – you will find me (and my readers) there again!

      Reply
  5. Just read “Zen and the Art of Ballet: 10 Tips for the Journey” and it really resonated with me, even though I am a Certified Let Your Yoga Dance Instructor, not a Ballet Dancer, your tips and advice were bang on and apply to all dance and some to life in general. My favorite line is • There is always someone better than you. (If this is not the case, you’re taking the wrong class.)…LOVE THIS!! I’m a little pressed for time today but I certainly will be back to check out your site.
    Thanks

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    • Yoga Dancer, I loved YOUR reply here, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your comments. And I hope you do indeed come back, as I’d love to hear about what you teach and if something like it is available anywhere in the vicinity of Santa Cruz. I’m a yogi as well as a ballet dancer and I’d LOVE to find a class that incorporates both!

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  6. Hi Classical Girl, I’m male and love to practice ballet…in tights. I’d so love to chat with you. Please email me. Thanks, michael

    Reply
    • Oh, email chat is no fun, Michael – the fun is right here, at The Classical Girl! ; )

      Very cool that you do the ballet thing, too. There are three males who regularly attend the ballet class I do, and I love their energy in the room. So much more fun as a co-ed endeavor. Keep it up and make all the women in your class happy.

      And thanks for dropping a line here!

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  7. I found your blog! I think you commented once on my website for my debut novel, “The Strength of Ballerinas,” that will be published by Cedar Fort (US), on September 9th, 2014. I was looking for reviewers, bloggers and/or endorsers for my novel.

    RIght now, I am trying to set up bloggers for my “Blog Tour,” which will occur from Sept. 7th – 27th. If you are interested in hosting me one day for the tour, or, reviewing, please let me know.

    I can send you all my social media info as well. My Facebook, however, is: Facebook.com/NancyLorenz(space) author.

    Thanks,

    Nancy

    Reply
  8. dear the classical girl
    i really love the way you write, it just speaks to me
    you are sarcastic, serious, poetic and truly you, and i really adore that, i am a ballet dancer too, i just attended the royal academy of dance in Denmark
    i feel like a little girl on Christmas eve, well, that might be because I’m only 15

    Reply
    • Dear Mrs. Gilbert – your wonderful comment here made my day! You make me sound just the way I hope I sound! : ) And that is sooooo cool that you’ve attended the Royal Academy of Dance in Denmark. Wow, so impressive, and I hope it’s as wonderful of an experience as it sounds. Or at least a powerful experience (sometimes it’s too hard of work to qualify as “wonderful,” but you know what I mean, right?).

      Thanks for leaving your comment!

      Reply
  9. I’m very grateful that the NYPL posted your Nutcracker blog on Twitter. I write about dance too (both ballet, modern/contemporary and the history of both) and learned some new things. FYI, Pacific Northwest Ballet will get a new Nutcracker in 2015. Choreography will be Balanchine’s with new sets and costumes by Ian Falconer of children’s book Olivia-fame. If you’re on Twitter too, please let me know how to follow.

    Reply
    • Hi Leslie, and thanks for commenting! Always lovely to meet another dance writer, and I’d love to follow you, too, on Twitter. I’ll see if I can hunt you down there, but if not, please hunt me down! I’m @classicalgrrl. Good to know PNB is going to be making a change in 2015; they are one of the companies I enjoy following in the [ballet] news, even though I’ve never gotten the chance to see them perform.

      Glad you mentioned the NYPL posting my Nutcracker blog link. I’m getting a lot of views on the blog, but I didn’t see an obvious link feeding readers in. Now I know! : )

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    • Thank you, Austin. And hey – I just took a peek at your own blog and wow – love your articles about the violin! (Other readers: you can access them by clicking on his name.) In fact, it’s like you read my mind: I started penning a blog last week about “HOW much is that violin worth?” and I was researching the top 10 priced violins in the world. Fascinating stuff. And today I saw the article on your site, from February, about the world’s most expensive violin. Cool! I plan to post my blog on the topic in a week or two. I’ll be sure and link your blog over on my “blogroll” page; I think readers will enjoy the read.

      Thanks, in the meantime, for the nice comment!

      Reply
  10. Good blog. I like the combination of ballet & violin (which I play). A few too many old weaknesses for ballet but I enjoy yoga flow.
    I recall Nuryev saying how much effort it took to stretch each day as he got older. I didn’t understand then. I was also fortunate to see him dance when he still good – he had a presence, even when still, which is exceptional.
    I recently heard Vengarov play – he’s in the same orbit. He said at Masterclass the day before “when you play the same notes in a passage, don’t play them the exactly same.”
    I wish I could follow more of his advice but technique remains a struggle.
    Cheers.

    Reply
  11. What a great source of musical information! I was researching violins and reasons to potentially take it up. I used to play the alto sax, but want to get into some strings, and not the guitar. I’ve looked all around the blog, and finally, I have some inspiration. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  12. Yay, Ron! Go for it. So glad my blogs inspired you. What a great adventure it has been for me since my decision to try out the violin – the world has expanded 10x in size (all in good ways). Best of luck to you!

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    • So great to hear that, Emma! Yes, very much agreed, that it enhances the well-being of body and mind alike. Thanks for taking the time to share.

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  13. Just wanted to share that I binge read “A Dancer’s Guide to Africa” tonight and absolutely fell in love with the characters and your style of writing! Can’t help but wonder if there will be a sequel 🙂
    Thank you so much for sharing your gift! Can’t wait to read more of your work!

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    • Oh, Maria, I just live for comments like the one you posted. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I adored that book. It will forever remain a distinct story, and, while initially I plotted out what might happen in a second Africa-centric story, nothing has risen to the level of “big story.” But I did make sure Fiona had a big role in BALLET ORPHANS, and if you’re looking for the next good read that connects to A DANCER’S GUIDE TO AFRICA, oh, definitely go that route! I loved finding ways to slip in little snippets about Fiona, her family, her two years in Africa. And, of course, it becomes very clear in BALLET ORPHANS who Fiona plans to settle down with for life. Try this link for BALLET ORPHANS, which just released a few days ago! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KSL1JZZ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_QLCFFb6M3CQ4E

      Reply
  14. Dear Classical Girl, what a lovely little island of culture you’ve created here among the fervent rant which makes up so much of the interweb! Warm greetings from an ancient Briton, now on the unfashionable side of his “threescore years and ten”.

    I found you quite by chance, when the Imaginatine Conservative site recently reprinted your piece “Music for Grace” with links to here – and what a friend Grace had in you, who dedicated RVW’s sublime Tallis fantasia to her, music which leaves me floating six inches below the ceiling every time. Then here, what do I find but several years’ worth of fascinating articles with all comments apparently still open … mmm, you’ll be hearing from me again!

    On ballet, you’re teaching me pretty much from scratch: (a) I’m a feller who (b) grew up in a small town where there simply wasn’t any. On classical music, though, you have my absolute attention, at all scales from chant and instrumental solos up to Wagner’s titanic masterworks. So little time, so much music …

    OK, having introduced myself, I’m off to your Messiah page to add my two penn’orth there. Given the date, and from the middle of Dickens’ country, I wish you and your family a joyful Christmas and a happy New Year.

    Reply
    • Steve, your wonderful message here is like receiving a Christmas gift! (And seeing as it is Dec 23rd, the analogy is particularly apt.) Welcome, and thank you so much for taking the time to craft your delightful comments.

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      • My dear Girl, thank you for that warm welcome! – The warmth all the more appreciated as the UK is apparently in for a bit of real “Dickensian Christmas weather” over the next couple of weeks!

        But here’s a real gift, in fact four “impromptu” gifts. Nos.1 to 3 are perfect, but his performance of No.4 (from 20’50”), with impossibly liquid arpeggiation, is almost beyond belief. Clear half an hour sometime over the holiday and enjoy a delicious treat … on January 5th, maybe, Sir Alfred’s 92nd birthday.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24DugWBRkYg

        Reply
  15. Dear Classical Girl,
    I would like to express how much I appreciated your essay about Swan Lake, posted on The VoegelinView blogspot about a week ago. You put into words so much of what I’ve always felt and loved about the ballet in general and this one in particular, words that need saying so much since the work is often submerged in cliché and over-familiarity. I look forward to reading more! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Abigail, what a lovely message to read! Thanks so much for your kind words, welcome, and yes, do read more!

      Reply

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