23 Comments
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Daisy Moses Chief Crackpot's avatar

enjoyed muchly! longtime ballet & opera fan too!... I think there's a passle've reasons why folks don't go like they used'ta... the "ahrts" have changed mightily an' I gotta on a way back burner ta write out how they kinda cracked up Nutcracker of late... that said, the last piece would'a been my fave-o-rite too! (Back in the day I used ta do ahrts commentary fer a radio show--writin' my own copy--an' golly wuz it FUN!) IMHO I'm not so keen on modern dance that attempts ta stage marital dramas, drug traumas, or i dunno, lust fer llamas?! The ONLY choreographer I adore (may she RIP) that managed ta choreograph human psychodrama wuz Pina Bausch! I'll take Princesses & Peas over "Three's Company" any day but I love ballet--may it "stay!" ;-)

sorry seein' this late--lotta fambly stuff on the menu

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erin's avatar

Not a ballet person... :-)

But the photo verges on the obscene.

More and more, I notice all the various transgressive elements in modernity subtly training people to normalize what should not be normalized. In a truly civilized society.

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Mary Poindexter McLaughlin's avatar

Just lovely. You're my kind of reviewer, Tonika -- concise, honest, and emotionally connected to the art. I'll be delighted to read any and all reviews you write! (Of COURSE.) xox

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

😂 your theatre nerdom is showing! Thank you for the lovely words.

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Mary Poindexter McLaughlin's avatar

Is it really? 🤓👍

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Jenny Joy's avatar

WOW!!! Great review.

When I started my ballet classes early last summer I was surprised to see that it has become very popular in my area. There are several dance schools teaching it near me, and several professional companies in the city of Montreal. I did a session of private classes and have now shifted to semi-private. At least in my part of the world it seems like a big resurgence of interest in this. And yes... as a student trying to learn it... a very difficult and challenging art form. But so beautiful to watch.

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

You never seize to surprise me!! Super impressed. And very surprised to hear that there’s a resurgence too. Seemed like school cost a small fortune to get into it and the hard work and toil are so demanding on a child.

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Jenny Joy's avatar

I was surprised as well... now that you mention those elements though, the crazy high cost and so much pressure on the kids, makes me wonder if the fact of having several schools in my area is reflective of this part of town. It matches the vibe of this section of Montreal quite well.

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

Yeah, definitely certain people are priced out of it.

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April Whalley's avatar

Beautiful to read something so uplifting - thank you ❤️❤️

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

🙏 🤗

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Barbara Sinclair's avatar

How wonderful, Tonika! Thx for sharing. 🩰 💕

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

Thanks for reading!

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ExcessDeathsAU's avatar

Thank you Tonika. I feel my condition much improved even by the photo of the theatre alone. I look forward to more reviews and photos like this very much!

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

🙏 thank you for supporting this path.

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Isaac Middle's avatar

Always enjoy consuming your writing, and I appreciate being given a glimpse into a world I would otherwise have no time for. Apollo would be well pleased by those aesthetics.

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

🙏

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Tereza Coraggio's avatar

Wow!!! 50 Shades of Tonika! From burlesque to high brow ballet. Really lush, the Carrot and the Girl was my favorite pic.

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

🙏 From B to high brow B and everything in B/n. 👊

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Elizabeth Schneider's avatar

Thank you beyond words for this food for the soul. I love the ballet, opera and symphony more than mere words can express. I am certain I will read this every single day for the next few weeks.

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

Grateful for your comment. I didn’t think many would care but was determined to share a bit of culture. I’ve been reading some poets and looking at some artists’ art, here on Substack, to fill my soul cup too. Really lovely to hear you are a ballet fan.

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ExcessDeathsAU's avatar

I love the culture aspect of Substack. I am doing a Dante read-along with Vashik Armenikus of Genius and Ink and every post is totally mind-blowing. He is so talented - his writing literally blows me away: https://armenikus.substack.com/p/when-politics-becomes-our-religion

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Visceral Adventure's avatar

Wow. Loved that. I wish I had the bandwidth to participate fully in dissecting old literature and seeing how it parallels todays problems. I’m going to subscribe though and see what I can pick up. Thanks for the recommend!

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