Musings on ballet, classical music, the violin, and life
The Classical Girl San Francisco Ballet patrons love their story ballets, and the most beloved is surely Swan Lake. Whether it’s because of, or in spite of the 2010 film, Black Swan, seeing this ballet at least once seems to be on everyone’s bucket list. Next to Nutcracker, this is what draws the non-ballet-goer to the ballet. Artistic … Read more
Back in February 2013, I made a decision. If I was going to give this blogging thing a try, I needed to stick with it. I knew the facts: most blogs fail within six months, simply because it’s damned hard work to keep coming up with new, interesting, insightful things to say. It reminds me of that beer-in-a-shotglass game … Read more
Silicon Valley Ballet (formerly Ballet San Jose) did something really fun this winter: they flew to Spain and took their “Director’s Choice” program on tour. Twelve performances in eight cities, to sold out crowds and great acclaim, fulfilling a three-year goal of artistic director José Manuel Carreño to get these dancers onstage more. Last Monday’s … Read more
In January 2013, the news made headlines: the Paris Opera Ballet, that iconic institution, 355 years old, housed in one of the world’s most glamorous ballet venues (Palais Garnier – you can read my blog and see pics HERE), had chosen a director of dance to succeed Brigitte Lefèvre after her twenty-year tenure. The winner: Benjamin Millepied. He … Read more
I’ve gleaned a lot of wisdom over the past two years, most of it the hard-earned, head-shaking kind. During this time period, coincidentally [or not], I recommenced a daily mindfulness meditation practice. You wouldn’t think that sitting on a pillow at 4:45am for twenty minutes, doing nothing but observing the rise and fall of your … Read more