My newest book:
Happy Valentine's Day
This photo of Jock Soto while still a student at The School of American Ballet (he is now retired and teaches at the school) is just one of many wonderful photos up at the theater right now. Every time I go to the NYCB, I've really been enjoying in the intermissions looking at the exhibition: Full Circle, spread throughout the theater. (Above photo is from 1981 by Steven Caras.)
I'm getting ready for a busy day today. Actually it started yesterday with SAB's Valentine's Day Open House. All the students broke loose in festive pinks and reds, and it was lots of fun watching the advanced students in Jock Soto's partnering class. The boys really got a workout, partnering the D level girls for the first hour and C2 for the second hour. Jock wants them to make it all look easy, but to have the strength to maneuver and carry the girls around, while at the same time gallantly offering them a diamond ring (one of his examples) is clearly a challenge, but a fun challenge all done with a good sense of humor! He says if anything goes wrong, the boy will always get the blame. "Get use to it, boys, " he says, "it is that way in life too!" As a former SAB parent and now supporter, the annual Valentine's Day Open House is a really illuminating way to get a peek at ballet training in action - I love it! My friend Philip came with me and he has just written a wonderful and detailed description of the afternoon here
Today I'm taking the train out to Larchmont to take part in a big multi-state Valentine's Book Day. Throughout New England (and New York counts) lots and lots of authors and illustrators of children's books are going to be at independent bookstores doing programs and book signings. I'll be at The Voracious Reader from 12:30 to 2:30. I believe they have been able to get copies of my newest book, Riki's Birdhouse. This is a sneak preview because it isn't officially out until April! Here is the website for the complete listing of who is going to be where: Kids Love Authors
By the time I get back to the city I will probably have to go straight over to Symphony Space on Broadway to get on line for The Art of the Pas de Deux: A Master Class with Jock Soto and Advanced SAB Students, at 6pm. Admission is free, with seating on first come, first served basis so I think I need to get there a bit in advance. Here's a quote from The New York Times, 2/8/09: "Mr. Soto was a legendary partner, and the chance to see and hear him passing on his knowledge shouldn't be missed." I still miss Jock Soto as a performer at NYCB so it is a big treat to see him two days in a row in his teaching role working with the talented SAB students. This event is part of SAB's 75th anniversary celebration. (The above photo is by Ellen Crane from a few years ago - Jock Soto is working with Tabitha Rinko-Gay, a lovely young dancer now with NYCB and all the way to the right is Justin Peck, also now in the company - and about to have an important debut with Megan Johnson in Concerto Barocco!)
And from there I will jump on the subway to get down to Lincoln Center to meet friends for the evening performance at New York City Ballet. It's a great program, full of romantic storytelling, and especially perfect for Valentine's Day: Balanchine's one act Swan Lake (I'll be looking for Lydia amongst all the black swans!), The Steadfast Tin Soldier (based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale), Romeo and Juliet pas de deux (the balcony scene) and Slaughter on 10th Ave (from the musical, On Your Toes, choreography by Balanchine).
Somewhere in all of this I will have some chocolate. After all, what is Valentine's Day without some excellent chocolate! Happy Valentine's Day!
PS: This was a perfect day in every way. Thank you Voracious Reader for being so welcoming and it was great that so many families came and were excited about books! At Symphony Space Jock Soto and the SAB students were beautiful - I was awed by their dedication and charmed by their humor and I wish all these young dancers the very best of luck in the pursuit of their dreams. At NYCB it really was a most perfect performance in every way. I spotted my black swan, and Wendy Whelan in pristine white was truly a creature from another world. Megan Fairchild and Daniel Ulbricht in The Steadfast Tin Soldier were superb, adorable and poignant. Katie Morgan and Tyler Angle, two of the most beautiful and talented young dancers were simply excellent in Romeo and Juliet. And then Maria Kowroski's legs ... in Slaughter! And my excellent chocolate? - from Mondel's on Broadway, a tiny little shop with chocolates made the old-fashioned way, by hand. I will have to write about Mondel's at length another time soon!