Nutcracker Memories

AAhhhh late-afternoon of Christmas Day. By now, most children whose families celebrate Christmas will have torn through layers upon layers of wrapping paper, and are now sleeping peacefully as they crash from their sugar highs brought on by all the sweets they have stuffed themselves with the last 24 hours. Anyway, as I sit here reflecting on the Holidays and what they mean to me, I can’t help but think of my childhood memories and one thing that was ALWAYS a big part of them when I was growing up: The Nutcracker.

ABT, NYCB go to Cuba

It's been about a month since I last blogged. I have been busy at my new job, but hopefully as I get further adjusted I will have more time to update this more.

I just read a really interesting article about a tour that American Ballet Theatre and a handful of New York City Ballet dancers made to Cuba. Since 1959, an ongoing trade embargo against Cuba has meant that few American dance companies have made the trip to that country that apparently is less than 50 miles (?) from Florida.

The article describes how famed-Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso--who danced for ABT in the 1940s--was instrumental in bringing the American performers to her home country. It's also interesting to hear that many ballet performances there are only 25 cents a ticket. Maybe if our government supported the arts here, dance would be more accessible and celebrated in USA. What do you think??

Take a look!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/arts/dance/03abt.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=a%20cultural%20leap%20across%20a%20political%20divide&st=cse

Career Transition for Dancers Gala in New York--November 8

I was just surfing the net to see about any interesting news in the Dance World, and I came across an announcement for the 25th anniversary of Career Transition for Dancers. CTD is a wonderful organization that helps dancers when they have to hang up the tights and dance shoes, and find a new career. Their work is valuable for dancers--many of whom have never been to college--and now find themselves having to ask a scary question:

"What do I do now???"

The birth of my Blog

Greetings to all 3 of you who will ever see this for the next 5,000 years!! You should feel special as you are among those fortunate enough to read my first-ever blog!!

As you probably saw from my profile, I am a recent library school graduate from Maryland who is going into a career in performing arts librarianship for a non-profit organization. This blog has been created for several purposes: First, I thought it was time that I FINALLY enter the 21st Century and learn how to use this Web 2.0 stuff. Also, I thought it would be a great way to communicate with other folks involved and/or interested in libraries and archives, the performing arts, and--sometimes current events. Finally, I thought it would be kind of a cool way to chronicle this new chapter of my life...

So on that note, can I ask you to tell me any advice you would have for a newbie blogger?  Any way(s) that blogging has enriched your life??

Cheers!!

A pic of me with another dancer in Richmond Ballet's Nutcracker from 1998. This is from 'Chinese' in the Second Act.