The dance invented for partnering by a Frenchman, Pierre, to celebrate the Spanish bullfight and Flamenco influence, is great fun. The man stands as straight as a bullfighter, and the woman gets to sweep about like a cape.
If you have to prepare for a competition, which is the only place you actually see it danced, maybe it would be nerve racking, but for our purpose, playing with a Spanish attitude to good music, yes!
We did Marche = French for march, chasse = French for side steps, sur place = French for in place, Separation = French for separation, Ending for Separation, and the Cape.
I will play "Espana Cani" at the Mary French Dance and see how many people stand up.
Thanks Ron!
Monday, September 30, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Arlene Hanlon
My friend, the MCAS coordinator, died recently at age 64. Her family gave us a great Emerson quote.
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded."
All positive, but not cloying - just the one little negative bit, enduring the betrayal of false friends, which Arlene never shared. I saw her happy to see the best in her fellow human beings, always optimistic that the teenagers would cooperate for their own good.
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded."
All positive, but not cloying - just the one little negative bit, enduring the betrayal of false friends, which Arlene never shared. I saw her happy to see the best in her fellow human beings, always optimistic that the teenagers would cooperate for their own good.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
DWTS "Cult Favorite"
They are calling Bill Nye a cult favorite, so even though he is the worst dancer, we will probably see him for many weeks, even with a partially torn ligament in his knee. Not that he was doing dangerous steps, but any steps can be dangerous if you fall down.
The other famous one, Valerie Harper, has inoperable brain cancer.
Snooki now wants to be called Nicole because she's a mother, and her rumba with Sasha didn't flow because she needed to be true to her boyfriend. Father of her child. Not an actress that can get into a part, though not a bad dancer. And Sasha puts up a story for her dance that he was her boyfriend but misbehaved, so she has to know just what he did - Did you shoot someone? Were you in jail? No? Then you cheated on me - with multiple partners! 4 foot 9 inches. Tom says Snicole.
Surprised to still like Mark and Christina, also to not care at all about Elizabeth, who is my height. Enjoyed Corbin - the ringer, why not? Bill the older comedian dancing like an uncle at a wedding reminds me of many of my students. Some other forgettable dances, oh well. I like Witney and Lindsay, the matched pair of Utah blondes from STYYCD who anchor the troupe and get bits as we go to commercial break.
Still a good show, maybe better because of tighter editing since the results don't have a separate show. Ten minutes for "You're safe, and you're safe and you're ....safe, and you too, nine times. Cut to commercial, cue scary music and Keyshawn goes home because he didn't dance. When we have fewer contestants, there will be time for celebrity musicians.
The other famous one, Valerie Harper, has inoperable brain cancer.
Snooki now wants to be called Nicole because she's a mother, and her rumba with Sasha didn't flow because she needed to be true to her boyfriend. Father of her child. Not an actress that can get into a part, though not a bad dancer. And Sasha puts up a story for her dance that he was her boyfriend but misbehaved, so she has to know just what he did - Did you shoot someone? Were you in jail? No? Then you cheated on me - with multiple partners! 4 foot 9 inches. Tom says Snicole.
Surprised to still like Mark and Christina, also to not care at all about Elizabeth, who is my height. Enjoyed Corbin - the ringer, why not? Bill the older comedian dancing like an uncle at a wedding reminds me of many of my students. Some other forgettable dances, oh well. I like Witney and Lindsay, the matched pair of Utah blondes from STYYCD who anchor the troupe and get bits as we go to commercial break.
Still a good show, maybe better because of tighter editing since the results don't have a separate show. Ten minutes for "You're safe, and you're safe and you're ....safe, and you too, nine times. Cut to commercial, cue scary music and Keyshawn goes home because he didn't dance. When we have fewer contestants, there will be time for celebrity musicians.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Fixing the Road!
"Improvements to be made to Highfield Drive", says the Falmouth Enterprise.
Public-private partnership, seeming to be abutters paying for materials, town providing labor.
Drains, utilities etc being a problem on that steep hill.
May be completed by mid-October.
Some folks with nice cars were driving very carefully.
Hopefully it will be passable on October 5.
Public-private partnership, seeming to be abutters paying for materials, town providing labor.
Drains, utilities etc being a problem on that steep hill.
May be completed by mid-October.
Some folks with nice cars were driving very carefully.
Hopefully it will be passable on October 5.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
NBRDW 2013
The evening's preparations were bothersome. I turned on my video camera in the morning to check and it was funky, needed to be charged - so I thought! Then when it was charged and it was 4:00, my little speech written, flyers printed for the October 19 dance, etc., it really didn't work, no matter how many times I turned it off and on. "No access to hard drive."
I went to Staples to buy a new one. No hard drives, just memory chips. I almost went to Wal Mart, but the salesman was helpful and I took a $99 one. Mistake, I'm afraid. When I saw the little patent leather case they had designed, I got the feeling it might be just a toy. I managed to get the battery charged before the dance. I managed to attach it to the tripod and record. The zoom is jumpy.
Finally, filming and my speech over, so I managed to enjoy part of the evening.
I went to Staples to buy a new one. No hard drives, just memory chips. I almost went to Wal Mart, but the salesman was helpful and I took a $99 one. Mistake, I'm afraid. When I saw the little patent leather case they had designed, I got the feeling it might be just a toy. I managed to get the battery charged before the dance. I managed to attach it to the tripod and record. The zoom is jumpy.
Finally, filming and my speech over, so I managed to enjoy part of the evening.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
DWTS started with no publicity to speak of
No ad on facebook. My DVR automatically recorded it for me, and when I went to put SYTYCD on DVD for my teacher, there it was.
They have downscaled this year. Only one night a week with elimination after they dance.
The "Celbriquarium" was "converted to Condos", said Tom, meaning they sold more tickets to the live show?
Also, perhaps in a bid to make more money, they seemed to have "bleacher seats", a group of women watching on TV? Brooke (icky hair style) interviewed two, and they were all for Mr. Craggy Face, Bill Nye, who got the lowest judge's scores, 5,4,5, or a total of 14. What a big face he has. I was told once many screen stars have relatively big faces. Dancers have the legs.
Another change - good one - no post dance interview by Brooke. Those were consistently awkward and dumb. The scores come up right away and everyone in their little crowd sees them at once.
As for the dancing, Mark Ballas' contemporary was a pleasant surprise. I got the feeling his partner didn't trust him. The TV reviewer I read hates him. And yet it was the best contemporary routine with a lot of light and shade, as they say, beating Val & Elizabeth and Corbin & Karina in my book.
Heart strings pulled for Valerie Harper with brain cancer. I weep easily, like Carrie Ann.
Once again Derek trained/presented his partner best, a young woman I never heard of, from GLEE, Amber.
Another one I liked was the Blue Collar comedian, not a young man, who showed plenty of room for improvement. The best comedian yet. They have such a hard time taking dance seriously.
Snooki, Brant, football guy, Ozzy Osbournes' son and one more.
They have downscaled this year. Only one night a week with elimination after they dance.
The "Celbriquarium" was "converted to Condos", said Tom, meaning they sold more tickets to the live show?
Also, perhaps in a bid to make more money, they seemed to have "bleacher seats", a group of women watching on TV? Brooke (icky hair style) interviewed two, and they were all for Mr. Craggy Face, Bill Nye, who got the lowest judge's scores, 5,4,5, or a total of 14. What a big face he has. I was told once many screen stars have relatively big faces. Dancers have the legs.
Another change - good one - no post dance interview by Brooke. Those were consistently awkward and dumb. The scores come up right away and everyone in their little crowd sees them at once.
As for the dancing, Mark Ballas' contemporary was a pleasant surprise. I got the feeling his partner didn't trust him. The TV reviewer I read hates him. And yet it was the best contemporary routine with a lot of light and shade, as they say, beating Val & Elizabeth and Corbin & Karina in my book.
Heart strings pulled for Valerie Harper with brain cancer. I weep easily, like Carrie Ann.
Once again Derek trained/presented his partner best, a young woman I never heard of, from GLEE, Amber.
Another one I liked was the Blue Collar comedian, not a young man, who showed plenty of room for improvement. The best comedian yet. They have such a hard time taking dance seriously.
Snooki, Brant, football guy, Ozzy Osbournes' son and one more.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Nice practice venue
My students, Jim & Cate, have secured a practice space on Thursday evenings at the North Falmouth Elementary School. What a nice long room, especially as we have just begun to study Quickstep! This dance has thrown some people for a loop, but it looks like they are determined. If you're interested, I'll put you in touch.
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