Musings on ballet, classical music, the violin, and life
Google “Top 10 classical ballets” or something similar, and you’ll find a whole slew of lists that, in truth, really don’t vary a whole lot. Some feature more contemporary ballets and include the works of Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, George Balanchine. Others opt for the whimsical and light, like Coppélia and La Fille Mal Gardée. … Read more
All right, a show of hands: who’s seen the 1832 ballet, La Sylphide? {{Looks around}} Yup. I’m not surprised. And for the record, I didn’t raise my hand either. But its importance came to mind last week, as I was researching for a Top 10 Classical Ballets list and found myself indecisive about the … Read more
Interested in my dance-related fiction? Check out the Ballet Theatre Chronicles ( Off Balance , Outside the Limelight, Ballet Orphans), as well as A Dancer’s Guide to Africa. Just click on their titles! Back in the late 18th century, the ballet world decided that female dancers should look ethereal, sylph-like, as if they could fly. A … Read more