IstenSzek said:

let's hope misty inspires him to write some wicked dance tunes,

we need some more foot tappin' funk just about now. mayte was

a dancer and he did some great dance music for her.

Ottensen said:

prodigalfan said:

Thanks. But I don't want there to be mis-information here, though:. While they are now just a school, The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) is absolutely classical ballet at its core...you can't reinterpret classical into neo-classical unless you have the foundation down first. Think of other arts where this could apply, for example "soul" music (which produced the neo-soul explosion of the 90's), or, Greek architecture (which is the basis for the neo-classical design of the federal buildings and monuments in Washington DC).

I wouldn't say that they lost any classical skills in any way, as they are a classical school and (was a classical company-DTH as we knew it- no longer exists)...DTH just happens to be primarily famous for doing neo-classical interpretation in their performances- with their own technical nuances as influenced by Arthur Mitchell ( who don't forget was a Principal dancer at City Ballet/NYCB).

Most ballets the DTH performed had identical choreography to their classical counterparts, and their dancers are trained in both classical and neo-classical repetoire. For the dancers in the current performing "B" ensemble at DTH which is still in operation, their work encompasses all forms of ballet (classical, neo-classical, and contemporary) combined with Afro-Carribbean dance technique, so they definitely are different technically to ABT and NYCB. As for the dancers who tried to audition for the other companies when DTH was imploding, I think it's just that for whatever reason they just didn't have that "extra" something to make the ranks of those other dudes that that go head to head with the Bolshoi..and somehow Misty did.

I think it's cool as hell to see people on the board giving ballet a second look and wanting to check it out since ole Princey is featuring it in his shows. Hopefully people will be inspired to check out ballet performances in their own neck of the woods...not necessarily seeing some big opera house production, but maybe just checking out smaller concerts or recitals in their neighborhoods. When you see how much dance Theatre of Harlem suffered from lack of funds in the last decade, can you imagine how hard it is for even smaller companies to survive? These smaller companies exist on next to nothing and are always in a state of flux and stress. So if people feel like they're really becoming interested in ballet, by all means, please keep your eyes open to your local paper for whatever small performances are happening in your area or support your local ballet school recitals. I always tell people, "buy a ticket.... and preserve a dream" :butterfly:

Thanks, and I have just recently. My office mate's daughter has been taking ballet training since she was 3 years old, now 12. She has become good enough to make the cut for local performances of national tour of the Nutcracker.

I took my 10 year old to see a performance and we both enjoyed the show.

My daughter loves to dance (her own interpretation) and has asked to take classes after seeing the Nutcracker , and I have been reluctant to even check into because I thought my daughter was too old to start. (she's 10). But since hearing about Misty not starting till 13 and going to the heights SHE went to... I am rethinking about getting my daughter to take a class. Don't get me wrong... I don't entertain thougths that she is special... she doesn't have the tenacity to "stick with it". But maybe she can have some fun and learn self discipline by taking a class.

Thanks again.

Ottensen said:

prodigalfan said:

Thanks. But I don't want there to be mis-information here, though:. While they are now just a school, The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) is absolutely classical ballet at its core...you can't reinterpret classical into neo-classical unless you have the foundation down first. Think of other arts where this could apply, for example "soul" music (which produced the neo-soul explosion of the 90's), or, Greek architecture (which is the basis for the neo-classical design of the federal buildings and monuments in Washington DC).

I wouldn't say that they lost any classical skills in any way, as they are a classical school and (was a classical company-DTH as we knew it- no longer exists)...DTH just happens to be primarily famous for doing neo-classical interpretation in their performances- with their own technical nuances as influenced by Arthur Mitchell ( who don't forget was a Principal dancer at City Ballet/NYCB).

Most ballets the DTH performed had identical choreography to their classical counterparts, and their dancers are trained in both classical and neo-classical repetoire. For the dancers in the current performing "B" ensemble at DTH which is still in operation, their work encompasses all forms of ballet (classical, neo-classical, and contemporary) combined with Afro-Carribbean dance technique, so they definitely are different technically to ABT and NYCB. As for the dancers who tried to audition for the other companies when DTH was imploding, I think it's just that for whatever reason they just didn't have that "extra" something to make the ranks of those other dudes that that go head to head with the Bolshoi..and somehow Misty did.

I think it's cool as hell to see people on the board giving ballet a second look and wanting to check it out since ole Princey is featuring it in his shows. Hopefully people will be inspired to check out ballet performances in their own neck of the woods...not necessarily seeing some big opera house production, but maybe just checking out smaller concerts or recitals in their neighborhoods. When you see how much dance Theatre of Harlem suffered from lack of funds in the last decade, can you imagine how hard it is for even smaller companies to survive? These smaller companies exist on next to nothing and are always in a state of flux and stress. So if people feel like they're really becoming interested in ballet, by all means, please keep your eyes open to your local paper for whatever small performances are happening in your area or support your local ballet school recitals. I always tell people, "buy a ticket.... and preserve a dream"

Excellent information you are sharing. My older sister had a major interest in Modern dance years ago when she was younger, and took part in many high school talent shows, and took lessons after high school. She basically dragged me and my other siblings and our friends on the block with her to take dance lessons every week, and got us interested in going to see shows of the Alvin Ailey dance theater years ago. It just so happened that the dance teacher's daughter who took ballet and modern dance, eventually made it into the Alvin Ailey dance company and is longtime friends with Judith Jamison. I also remember when during my public school and high school days, teachers would take students on a trip to Lincoln Center to see ballet presentations like "Romeo & Juliet" and "The Nutcracker".

They also introduced us to opera like "Carmen" where they would have us listen to a record of the opera, while the teacher basically narrated and showed us how to analyze what events took place, during different parts of the music. It was basically a requirement that students were introduced to various forms of art at that time. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding in many public schools today, many students are not given the oppotunity to be exposed to these forms of art in their schools.

Thanks for filling us in on your experience with ballet and the information regarding the other well-known dance companies.

[Edited 3/9/11 6:44am]

prodigalfan said:

No disrespect felt here. You are basically saying the same thing I was saying. I have a mixture of other races in my ancestry besides African... but it doesn't matter because what you SEE is a black woman... not anything else. So you are absolutely right... unless you are going to walk around with a sign that says "I'm 78% African 12% Indian"... it doesn't mean a thing.

You do realize that its some people's job to sit and break down those numbers? For many reasons so to speak. When a body is discovered, it is this very "racial breakdown" that is necessary in helping in identifying the person. I think noting differences or mixtures isn't a bad thing unless one is saying it in a negative way. Differences in race/skin color is a beautiful thing!

Prince during the Come /Emancipation/ GE days (and really anything from 1988-2008) one couldn't just describe Prince as "black," which is why it is so easy for people to believe Prince is mixed with Italian, because he looks like it. No big deal, Prince said he was italian, maybe he really is. Ever thought of that?

2elijah said:

Ottensen said:

In all sincerity, I'm not missing anything. In spite of my typos and never ending usage of slang in my posts, I have a fairly high SAT verbal score, and my reading comprehension is just fine, thank you. It's not that I don't understand you, I just simply don't agree with you. Frankly, I think you're talking out the side of your neck. Futhermore, I don't need a crash course from you on the world of musicians, or fine and performing artists because I've worked with them, lived amongst them, traveled with them, ate their food, baby sat their kids, and married a few over the last few decades... so I'm pretty familiar with how that life works, how the world sees these people, and how they see themselves....but thanks anyway for the input. As for the school analogy; that's comparing apples and turnips. I think it's a sophmoric comparison and I'm not engaging that foolishness because it reeks of bait.

Listen, I'll give you the first paragraph, and say that I understand your first point; people who wouldn't normally be ballet fans are now interested in Copeland due to her association with Prince. Fair enough. But trust that those new fans will not make nor break Copeland's career. I dare say that privilege goes to Kevin McKenzie and the current board of Directors at American Ballet Theatre.

As for the rest of what you've written:

1. Nothing that I have written here is an assumption. Let us be very clear here that when it comes to this topic, you are dealing with neither sycopant nor dilettante, Dear. I don't know what part of 'I studied under the direction of a former ABT dancer who performed under the great George Ballanchine' you didn't understand- but if you can't piece 1+1 together that comment alone, then this is going to be a useless conversation because not only are we not on the same page, it is abundantly clear to me that you haven't even cracked open the metaphorical book on this subject

I would also like to add that as a middle aged woman, I'm pretty proud to say that I have volunteered for world class organizations allowing me the opportunity to be a fundraiser for ballet across North America. I have a personal track record of having raised over $250,000 worth of donations...yup, I have squeezed over quarter of a million duckets from donors in 20 years of my life...all for this art form. When it comes to ballet, while I am not a dancer, it is a world that I am intimately familiar with to the point that I am quite capable of saying what it is and what it isn't, and I guarantee you has not a thing to do with assumption or illusion. What I have said here is based on experience, active involvement, passion for the art form, and cold hard truth- not some fucking esoteric diatribe on the equality of man and the fairness of God. Whether you like it or not, whether you choose to recognize it or not, there are tiers in professional performing arts on planet Earth, period...and while I too believe in God and trust that He is a God of grace, mercy, and impartiality, this utopic world of equality you speak of currently does not not exist in this realm, and it most certainly does not exist in the world of DANCE . So let it exist in your heart if that's what you need, but um, don't play yourself with what's up in this world, on this dimension

2. Let me state here for the record that I am not saying in any way, shape, form or fashion that the Alvin Ailey company or the Dance Theatre of Harlem are lesser companies because they are predominantly African American. As a black woman with friends in both of those companies you can get the hell out of here with trying to twist my words into that bullshit, and I'm not even going to touch the nonsense about not owning my culture . First of all, please note that Ailey is a MODERN dance company, so they aren't even applicable to this conversation on ballet. In the same way that you don't compare the fucking Isadora Duncan Dance Troup to the former Imperial Ballet of Russia or Royal Ballet of London- Ailey, like Katherine Dunham, Mercer Cunningham, and Martha Graham is moot to this conversation. Get the analogy ?

3. As for DTH, allow me to point out that in 2006 when the company nearly collasped from lack of funds many of the dancers there tried their damndest to get into ABT and NCB, and sadly none of them made the cut during auditions. Are the members of DTH among the most talent ballet dancers in the nation? Absolutely. But what we're talking about here is not about them being predominantly African American, it's purely about the rigors of interpretation and technique, and unfortunately they could not make the cut, while Copeland could. DTH is exquisite to be sure, it's a company with 40 years of "firsts" , and stands strongly as a pillar of neo-classical ballet interpretation. But while DTH is a national treasure with their own unique ownership to classical movement, they are not THE face nor leading interpreter for the American style of classical ballet on the GLOBAL 1st tier. Even Virginia Johnson herself will tell you that.

The idea that Copeland's opportunity isn't something to be celebrated and the insistence that it only had a "supposed barrier" reads stuck on stupid to me. If you have a problem with the direction and the context of her interviews, then that should be taken up with the segment producer or the person posing the questions, not the person being interviewed. She's answering questions based within the context of her position in the American Ballet Theatre, and what that entity represents as a global force in classical dance, not more not less. People seriously need to stop digging for issues with this woman where there clearly are none. While you're at it you can also stop telling people what she's modestly accepted or not in who paved the way for her career at ABT; because if you want to talk about assumptions, you don't know that any more than you know what color drawers that chile put on this morning.

Fin.

Lawd have mercy Ottensen, that's why I luv ya. You are "always" on point, and if orger "3121TV" doesn't get your comments in this post, then one has to wonder about her intentions in going after some folks in this thread, including me, over a ballerina's accomplishments. Not to mention using "Jehovah" as a weapon to get her point across. I have a feeling that orger "3121TV" missed that little yellow school bus... several times.

[Edited 3/8/11 10:15am]

Ottie handling the lightweight ain't she?

I have to say, I'm starting to get the impression that the real motive behind this reuser's bitterness and unfounded character assassination of Misty seems like it stems from Prince being closely associated with someone who is not a witness. She really has no basis whatsoever for her tirades other than being obviously biased.

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

prodigalfan said:

No disrespect felt here. You are basically saying the same thing I was saying. I have a mixture of other races in my ancestry besides African... but it doesn't matter because what you SEE is a black woman... not anything else. So you are absolutely right... unless you are going to walk around with a sign that says "I'm 78% African 12% Indian"... it doesn't mean a thing.

You do realize that its some people's job to sit and break down those numbers? For many reasons so to speak. When a body is discovered, it is this very "racial breakdown" that is necessary in helping in identifying the person. I think noting differences or mixtures isn't a bad thing unless one is saying it in a negative way. Differences in race/skin color is a beautiful thing!

Prince during the Come /Emancipation/ GE days (and really anything from 1988-2008) one couldn't just describe Prince as "black," which is why it is so easy for people to believe Prince is mixed with Italian, because he looks like it. No big deal, Prince said he was italian, maybe he really is. Ever thought of that?

You know what? I find it very irritating that non black people (caucasians) have no problem sharing they are "1/4 Indian, 1/2 Polynesian, 1/20 Spanish, etc. But no one will ever share what % is African. And you know there are many caucasian people who have a small percentage of African (be it 8% etc).

I guess this subject has really gotten on my nerves in particular this week. I had a man talk about himself... while we were standing in line. And he just went on and on. I tried to be polite and say polite words at the right time etc. But I lost it when he said this:

Guess what? I got Indian in me. Yeah my Great Great Grandmother on my father side was Indian. Before I could stop myself I replied wiht a huge smile on my face:

Oh yeah? Well I got one better. I got African in me... on my mother AND father's side.... how about that?

(BTW, it is quite obvious that I am African American. )

He just stared at me for a minute....ahhhh golden silence. Then he turned around to face the front of the line and left me the hell alone.

Oh and as far as Prince saying that he was Italian... just where did he say that? I have never read an article where Prince was quoted saying that. I'm and just wondering if he indeed said it or did his publicist say that along with that Prince was 16 years old in 1979. (He was older than 16).

And also I have seen pictures of Mattie and John. They look like light skinned African Americans; just like Prince.

Ottensen said:

LittleNicci said:

What is Plexiglass ?

I'm talking about his old ass wearing apres-ski boots with a damned lucite wedge heel. Lawd, this fool right here! Homeboy really needs to pass those on to Delta Werk or Mimi Imfirst

Chile, after drooling all over the screen looking at that ass, I perused some more and then noticed the "lucite" heels. Maybe he wore the apres skeezer boots to hide the tacky shoes.

Geeze the young lady next to him looks young...

MJ007 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

PRINCE IS THIS MILLENNIUM' S PIMP DADDY!!!!!!!!!!

No, Prince is the Millenium's ultimate slut. He goes through women quicker than shit through a goose, faster than a cat can lick it's a$$, faster than a deacon in a whorehouse, faster than...well you get the picture.

Don't hate congratulate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

Genesia said:

"Daddy" being the operative word.

Pimp daddy, sugar daddy, sweet daddy, whatever works! I bet he could have quite a few women calling him "daddy."

Don't hate congratulate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

journey said:

No offense, but Prince looks his age (52) in that pic, and Misty looks young enough to be his daughter (and probably is).

Don't hate congratulate!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE Elton John

gyro34 said:

CHRISLUV92 said:

THEN

A Chronological History of the Princely Buttcheeks. I've got one comment, "YUMMY!"

[Edited 3/2/11 11:05am]

Cute little tush....Please don't squeeze the Charmion

Oh sunny day!

Prince baby you are to fine dayumm.... @ yall complaints on Princes outfit....aint nothing wrong with a little glitter

Obviously there are mixed opinions on how Prince looks and what he was wearing. Bottom-line, he's still "doin' his thang" at 52 soon to be 53...

+ side: good to see u without the hair piece, u look like a man.... and the chick is way hotter than that ugly Bria....

- side: lose the dresses, u look like a cross between Liberace and Liza Minelli.....