Prime-time GlitzOh Solid Gold Dancers, how you added sparkle to my childhood.
My sister and I were highly influenced by their Lycra-clad glamor and we’d dance around the basement, Meghan spinning me over her head, The Pointer Sisters blaring, envisioning ourselves as Saturday night television stars.
I also had a long-running joke where I’d ask for ‘salad gold’ for dinner.
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This kid is the coolest dancer!! Made my day.
It's easy to go Swayze crazy when you take the time to appreciate his fun career (hello Road House, Point Break, and Donnie Darko!). The once top billed star made women of all ages sigh and daydream at the idea of being lofted in the air mid-dance or making pottery muck love.
Among his listed quotes are “Good looking people turn me off. Myself included.” Sadly he reported as losing a painful fight with pancreatic cancer and all our hearts go out to him.
Merce Cunningham, worlds “greatest living choreographer”?died last week, a few months after celebrating his 90th birthday and seeing to a Legacy Plan defined as “a comprehensive road map for the future of the Cunningham Dance Foundation, as envisioned by founder Merce Cunningham.”
I have never seen one of Cunningham's pieces in person, though many clips on youtube can enlighten one to what he's all about, and even today it's pretty avant garde.
An extensive obituary detailing his career and life can be read at the New York Times. Be sure to view the slide show to see him as a mad looking genius sharing the stage with Mikhail Baryshnikov on his 80th birthday.
On a recent visit my dad reminisced about Ricky Starr, a ballet dancing wrestler who, despite his fey persona, sent grown, gruff enemies into hysterics of fear with his deadly legs.
While Starr may not be touted as a gay icon (his own sexuality was probably straight) I think it's awesome that he was kicking ass and gained tons of fans while prancing around and acting in the exact way that (still) scares most wrestling fans to death.
Starr was a professional dancer before entering the wrestling game, and you can witness his fancy footwork here.
Why do I mention it now?
Because I love the new shaggy do and the season is nearly over. Your last chance to see Angel are the June 23 and 27 performances of Swan Lake.
Here's what I said back on 1/9/06:
Last year, I specifically chose the “Raymonda” performance that Angel would be performing. You can see him in the upcoming season of the American Ballet Theater, including Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet.