Reader's Forum.READER PANS `SNOBBISH' OUTLOOK I have to say that I am disappointed at the fact that you would endorse the obvious snobbery of Elizabeth Kaye by printing "Flash Gets a Pan" [Dance Magazine, January 2000]. I am no big fan of "tricks" replacing or even overshadowing the beauty of more "pure" technique. Therefore, my objection is not so much about the substance of the piece, and its particular reference to the six o'clock position (though I am not sure that I necessarily agree that this is a "trick" worthy of such derision). However, the article should have ended with her point that dancers who rely on tricks are likely to get an audience that appreciates tricks over artistry. But the article did not end there, and Ms. Kaye crossed the line into nastiness with her final sentence, which states, "And, in case you wondered: That's the same Metropolitan Opera House from which the 1999 MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. Music Awards show was broadcast." Dance seen on MTV is no less "legitimate" than dance seen on the great stages of the world. It is unfortunate that you would perpetuate the snobbish snob·bish adj. Of, befitting, or resembling a snob; pretentious. snob  bish·ly adv. viewpoint that the only "real" dance
forms are those that are to be performed on a concert stage, and
certainly not those that would be the subject of an awards show
broadcast from a concert stage. The message received by dancers
struggling to find work is, essentially, that if they are not concert
dancers, they are not worthy. How unfortunate.
Jennifer Shoup Via email Elizabeth Kaye replies: If what constitutes snobbery is the belief that a ballet company Noun 1. ballet company - a company that produces ballets troupe, company - organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical); "the traveling company all stayed at the same hotel" able to perform on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House is better than the sort of dancing one sees on MTV--with all due respect to its accomplished practitioners--if that constitutes snobbery, then I stand happily convicted. There has historically been a sharp distinction between high and low culture, and there should be. MODERN COMPANIES, TAKE NOTE! Thank you for your very useful summer study guide. I use it every year to hunt for new places to study. I'm currently looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. camps and especially colleges that have modern companies or modern focus. If you know of any, please send me a response. Even though I don't subscribe to Verb 1. subscribe to - receive or obtain regularly; "We take the Times every day" subscribe, take buy, purchase - obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; this wonderful magazine (I buy it every couple of months), I still love it! Kristen Sangalli Mahopac, New York Mahopac, New York, is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in the Town of Carmel in Putnam County, New York. Mahopac is located on US Route 6 by Lake Mahopac. As of the 2000 census, the population was 8,478. Thank you, and be sure to check out our Dance Magazine College Guide for profiles of college dance programs. A new edition is coming out this summer. The Editors CHEERS FOR TULSA COVERAGE I really enjoyed reading the article about Tulsa Ballet Tulsa Ballet is a professional American Ballet company located in Tulsa, OK. The artistic mission of Tulsa Ballet is "To preserve the tradition of classical ballet, promote the appreciation of contemporary dance, create works of superior and enduring quality, and educate through Theater in your September issue. I am a 13-year-old ballet student and I live in Knoxville, Tennessee “Knoxville” redirects here. For other uses, see Knoxville (disambiguation). Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the state of Tennessee, behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox CountyGR6. . The Tulsa Ballet Theater has done many outstanding performances for Knoxville, and I always look forward to going to see them. Every year I perform their Nutcracker and last year I was a party child in Act One. I was able to work with the dancers and with the artistic director, Marcello Angelini. It was truly an honor to be able to dance for him. He is a magnificent dancer and he made it a wonderful experience for me. Emma Newton Knoxville, Tennessee `DARK' SHEDS LIGHT The excerpts from the book Waltzing In the Dark: African-American Vaudeville vaudeville (vôd`vĭl), originally a light song, derived from the drinking and love songs formerly attributed to Olivier Basselin and called Vau, or Vaux, de Vire. and Race Politics in the Swing Era by Brenda Dixon Gottschild (February 2000) were remarkably written, and I would like to thank Ms. Gottschild ... The book also mentioned such fabulous acts as the Peters Sisters and Velma Middleton Velma Middleton (c. 1917–10 February 1961) was an American jazz vocalist born in St. Louis, Missouri, best-known for having sung with Louis Armstrong big bands and small groups. , who amazed audiences with their dancing agility. Speaking of the Peters Sisters, I watched and enjoyed their number "Don't Ever Lose It" in the 1937 motion picture musical With Love and Kisses, starring Pinky. Tomlin and Toby Wing Toby Wing (July 14, 1915, Amelia Courthouse, Virginia – March 22, 2001, Mathews, Virginia) was an American actress and showgirl. Born Martha Virginia Wing, she began working onscreen at age 9 (her father was Paul Wing, an assistant director). . I will not only keep watching and enjoying that number by the Peters Sisters, but I will also wish Ms. Gottschild good luck with her book. David Theodore Childs Philadelphia, PA A CRITIC DEFENDS ALEXANDRA TOMALONIS Stuart Sweeney's letter in the February number raises issues beyond the particular review that "disappointed" him. Can a critic question a category of work or must criticism address only the question of whether a particular piece lives up to the expectations of its category? Is the category of a particular choreographic work obvious, or is assigning a piece to a category a critical act that can be debated? I believe that criticism can and should tackle the wider questions of category validity or applicability, and that Alexandra Tomalonis has the right to object to works that do not, intentionally or unintentionally, utilize the performers' specific technical training. From having read her reviews over the years, I also believe that Tomalonis can differentiate between good, mediocre, and bad choreography no matter what the category. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , while questioning the wisdom of a ballet company performing pieces that require more of a modern dance or nightclub dance In a wider sense, the term Nightclub dance, or Club dance, is used in the meaning of Disco dance (see Disco music). In a narrower sense, especially in the context of dance competitions, the term Nightclub dances ability, she'd still laud the actual works when she felt that the praise was deserved. George Jackson George Jackson may refer to:
George Jackson is a Dance Magazine correspondent and critic LETTERS POLICY Send your letters to Readers' Forum, Dance Magazine, 111 Myrtle St., #203, Oakland, CA 94607, or email us at editorial@dancemagazine.com. Letters must be signed with name, city, state, and include a weekday telephone or fax number for confirmation. Letters become the property of Dance Magazine, which reserves the right to edit them. We do not print anonymous letters, although we will consider withholding names on request. |
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