arts•memearts•meme
26 April 2011

Melissa Hayden hops a train — just as she hopped into the arms of Jacques d’Amboise

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Melissa Hayden, one of the great eccentrics of New York City Ballet, hops a train while on tour with NYCB in Europe. [...]

14 April 2011

Jack Cole dancer George Martin dies

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One of Jack Cole’s faithful film and nightclub male dancers, George Martin, died in Atlanta. Martin kept the flame burning for Cole over the past decades and we are grateful. [...]

7 April 2011

Jack Cole mosaic

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A nine-pack of vintage Jack Cole photos for your viewing pleasure. [...]

1 February 2011

Lorenz Hart taught Balanchine English

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“Balanchine was rather reserved,” noted Barbara Horgan, the choreographer’s longtime assistant. “But he adored Lorenz Hart [the troubled but brilliant lyricist of Rogers & Hart songwriting team].” [...]

7 January 2011

A glimpse of Jack Cole coaching Monroe

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A wonderful photo showing choreographer Jack Cole Marilyn Monroe on-set for the “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” number in “Let’s Make Love.”(1960) [...]

4 January 2011

Please do not discriminate against us.

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Like “Gentlemen”? Read more:

Girl power

25 December 2010

Jack Cole’s top ten list

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Film zany Michael Schlesinger enjoyed teasing me with a Christmas contribution to arts•meme: a top-ten list of things choreographer Jack Cole liked about Christmas. [...]

12 December 2010

Judy Garland doesn’t care, and I don’t care either!

I love the insouciant song written for vaudevillian Eva Tanguay in 1906, “I Don’t Care.” It’s my theme song. Here Judy Garland sings it. [...]

5 December 2010

Ow! Betty Grable sizzles in Jack Cole choreography

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Dance on film is in the zeitgeist. There’s been praise — little from me — for Natalie Portman’s run at ballet in BLACK SWAN. Let’s look at what Jack Cole does for Betty Grable in THREE FOR THE SHOW. [...]

29 November 2010

Aronofsky’s BLACK SWAN: Raw deal for Odile

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Seconds into Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller BLACK SWAN, the hyperkinetic camera zooms in on a pink pointe shoe. A woman is dancing, but we don’t see her. We see only the impeccable chop-chop of her shoes. It’s a smart directorial move. Cinephiles and foot fetishists are primed for a good time, but dance lovers’ hearts may sink. [...]