As far as my husband and I are concerned, dance is the ultimate art form. It combines music, art, and movement all in the service of story. It can be classical…
Daniel Ulbricht in George Balanchine s Prodigal Son. Photo by Paul Kolnik.
The parable of the prodigal son is intended to be shocking in two ways. First, in a request that is almost cruel in its audacity, a son asks his father for his inheritance now, before his father’s death. The second shock is that, even after the son wastes that inheritance, the father not only forgives but rejoices at his return.
Reimagined as a ballet,
“Prodigal Son” is one of the most popular early works of the choreographer George Balanchine, the Russian émigré and dance icon who co-founded the New York City Ballet. The ballet will be part of the company’s fall 2022 season, and a previously recorded version is now streaming online.
Stars: 3/5
Disney+ pulled back the curtain in mid-December, releasing a docuseries following a season with students in the School of American Ballet, a prestigious dance academy in New York City.Â
âOn Pointeâ is divided into six episodes running around 45 minutes each. As a former pointe dancer myself, I was excited for this backstage look into the school and the New York City Ballet.
SAB was founded by George Balanchine in 1934. As a child, Balanchine was a student of the Imperial Ballet School in Russia. His exact, detailed technique and quick-paced choreography distinguished him as one of the most respected choreographers in American ballet. The New York City Ballet has performed his version of âThe Nutcrackerâ since 1954.
Russian Pryaniki: Ginger All the Way!
A Russian pryanik recipe for a Western home kitchen. Jennifer Eremeeva / MT
Ready or not, here come the holidays! Hanukkah has begun, bringing with it a most welcome celebration of light, faith, and hope (and latkes), and Western Christmas, New Year and Orthodox Christmas are not far behind. This year the celebrations have a more muted quality; it’s hard to go wassailing all over the town with social distancing and masking mandates in place. But there are holiday non-negotiables that no pandemic can vanquish, and for me, these are holiday cookies, candles, and music.