August 2012
24 posts
Ballroom Dancing, 1939 with UK's John Wells and...
Continuing with things British in honor of the Olympics, here are some vintage ballroom dance champs.
The World Championship Amateur Ballroom Dancing 1939 was held in Munich, Germany, on 5th February 1939
Winners were John Wells (Elsa Wells’ brother) with Renee Sissons. They won it for the sixth time in a row (they also won Blackpool five times and were second once …1932-1937). Next were Otto...
Why Do We Love Watching the Olympics?
By Nina Amir
Whether we are sports fanatics or not, most of us love to watch the Olympics. We may have our favorite sports, but we may find ourselves watching sports we don’t find quite so interesting as well.
What is it about the Olympics that we find so enticing, so enthralling, so utterly captivating? It’s not just the thrill of the game. It’s not just going for the gold. It’s reaching for...
July 2012
34 posts
The US Postal Service has become more...
Innovative choreographer Bob Fosse (1927-1987) winner of 9 Tony Awards,is on a new stamp issued today by the U.S. Postal Service stamps to mark National Dance Day
Three other innovative choreographers are on postage stamps released today – Jose Limon, Katherine Dunham and Isadora Duncan.While all are best-known for pioneering in modern dance, all three performed on Broadway.
Mabel Normand, Mack and Mable and Torvill and Dean
Some people may have seen the musical Mack and Mable or heard its songs, but few know much about Mabel Normand the person and great comic actress. And there are some people who are unfamiliar with the wonderful performances of Ice Dance Champs Torvill and Dean, who brought Mack and Mable alive on the ice and also gave popularity to Mabel.
Of all the comediennes of the silent film era, none was...
The Olympic Creed
Good motto for any profession
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
Olympic Creed by Pierre de Coubertin, 1896
WatchEdited to say that this post is pretty popular. And Chris, I hope that you enjoy a day of celebrating with London, friends, your boys online, and participating in the Opening Ceremonies with Jayne.
Wishing you health and happiness on your birthday and all through the coming year. Song is My Guy, by Mary Wells.
Love You, Mr. Dean.x
And here are some virtual Birthday/Olympic cupcakes.
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears...”
– (via seekthegreatunknown)
How Pointe Shoes are Made
Via Royal Opera House
Tour the Freed shoe factory with Royal Ballet dancers Leanne Cope and Nathalie Harrison.
Royal Ballet dancers can get through up to six pairs of pointe shoes a week. That’s a lot of shoes, most of them made by Freed of London, a major supplier of custom-made pointe shoes to the world’s top ballet dancers.
We recently took Royal Ballet First Artists Leanne Cope and...
Pointeless Ballet Moments
Five non-pointe shoe moments from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s recent and current repertory
1. In the Upper Room - Trainers
Twyla Tharp’s 40-minute steamtrain of energy demands relentlessly powerful performances of its cast. Rather than delicate pointe shoes, the unofficially (but appropriately) titled ‘Stompers’ pound the stage in white running-shoes. While they offer...
Tribute to George M Cohan - A True Yankee Doodle...
New York was home to George M. Cohan, vaudeville song-and-dance man, playwright, manager, director, producer, comic actor, and popular songwriter. During the first two decades of the 20th century, Cohan’s style of light comedic drama dominated American theater, and the lyrics he composed are still remembered at the end of the 20th century for their flag-waving patriotism and exuberance. His...
