Posts Tagged ‘eTalent Review’

Words from our readers

I am a ballet pianist who played for 32 years at Canada’s National Ballet School before moving to Vancouver in 2008 to play for Arts Umbrella.

I really enjoyed the litany of lingo presented by Diane Gudat [“Dance Studio Lingo,” October 2009]. Here is a list of goodies I’ve picked up during my nearly 40 years of piano pounding for foot-pointers (I am sure the meanings will be clear):

Armed bandit, banana back, Barrebie, bashemble, brié, brump, entrechat crap, entrechat sick, en error, flappes, grand batman, grand prié, painist, pas de duel, pas de shame, pas de shovel, promenod, rond de jam, sec-abesque, tour on luck, “on lounge, eh?” and “pension, eh?”
Trevor McLain
Vancouver, British Columbia

I just read “Ask Rhee Gold” in the March/April 2010 issue. As a studio owner and dance teacher for 26 years, I have always been a stickler for buns in ballet. I am now the proud mother of a 5-year-old girl who loves her ballet/tap combination class. When she was 2 she was diagnosed with a mild strain of a genetic condition called ectodermal dysplasia, which affects hair growth and teeth. She cannot get her hair in a bun and probably never will. This has taught me to be much more sensitive. Things are not always black or white, or “My way or no way.” I watch my daughter brush her hair and look at herself in the mirror. She asks me if she will ever have long hair and it breaks my heart. Our culture puts so much focus on hair—try finding a doll that doesn’t have hair down to her bottom. As I tell her often, it is just hair. I think she is beautiful. So maybe a little girl did go home crying, and maybe the mom wasn’t being another overly protective parent. You just never know.
Kim Brokaw
Jill Mallory Studio of Dance
Miami, FL

Bravo on your great May/June 2010 issue! The article on Company d is a fitting tribute to this extraordinary group of dancers but more importantly, to its founder, Darlene Winters. I am very fortunate to be able to work with all of them, and I am fondest of one picture with the article, the one of Luigi with company member David Hardin.

Also, the article about Dorothy Kloss, the world’s oldest showgirl, is terrific, too. I had the pleasure of taking classes with her last summer plus the previous one at Luigi’s Jazz Centre. She is an inspiration and keeps up her great looks with dance!

P.S. And, as Luigi teaches, “Never Stop Moving.”
Francis J. Roach
Luigi’s Jazz Centre
New York, NY

Thank you so much for your article about eTalent Review [“FYI,” May/June 2010]. We love what you put together and have seen a bit of an up-tick in our traffic. We are honored that you chose to include us!
Jennifer Ray
eTalent Review
Canton, MI