I Love Ballet

Center Stage and its pale shadow of a sequel were playing all weekend on the Oxygen network.

It reminded me how much I love ballet.

Here is the perfect Natalia Makarova as the dying swan.

Do the Happy Dance

Using Video Games to Get in Shape

Dancers have the best bodies. They are lean, flexible, athletic and strong.

Now you and your favorite couch potato can get fit by playing video games that incorporate dance.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has researched games such as Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) to see if they provide the same fitness benefits as more structured aerobic workouts. And they were pleased with the results.

You can boogie to your PlayStation or Wii and burn calories at varying intensity levels. They are finding that people from different age groups are playing and dancing together.

Hmmm, I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy a new gaming system. DDR sounds like a fun way to workout, relieve stress, burn calories and improve balance and coordination.

To read the full details of the ACE study, click here for a pdf version of the Sep/Oct issue ACE Fitness Matters.

I originally found this story at Yahoo! Health.

My Favorite Ballet Movies

When I was a kid, I studied ballet at a local dance school and performed in many recitals. I loved the graceful moves, the strict rules, the French names for everything and the beautiful costumes.

Trophies lined my shelves, I had pictures of myself en pointe, and somewhere there exists home movies of my solo routines.

Even as an adult, no matter what city I live in, I always find a place to take a ballet class now and then. I long for the perfect dancer’s body. I must own every ballet workout video on the market.

There are certain movies about ballet that I enjoy watching every time they are on television.

Here are scenes from my favorite movies about ballet in hopes that they will inspire you to watch them, too.

The Turning Point
The ultimate ballet movie with the best acting and most realistic dancing. Starring Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, and Leslie Browne with Mikhail Baryshnikov in a supporting role. Nominated for 11 Oscars.
(The music doesn’t match the footage. I recommend you mute it.)

Center Stage
A group of students study at a prestigious New York ballet academy and vie for spots in its elite company. This movie was not going to win any acting awards, but the dance sequences are fun, the cast is charming, and it’s a good behind-the-scenes look at the hard work and commitment that goes into a career in dance.

Billy Elliot
Set during the Miner’s Strike of 1980’s England, a poor, young boy wants to study dance instead of take boxing lessons. Needless to say, his hard-as-nails Dad and brother do not understand. Jamie Bell should have won as Oscar. In this sequence, Billy expresses his anger and frustration through dance. It’s pure genious.

The Company
Neve Campbell worked her butt off, quite literally, to get this movie made. Unfortunately, it was nearly ruined by director Robert Altman. There is absolutely no plot but the dance sequences are beautiful. Here is Neve Campbell performing on an outdoor stage during a storm.

What are your favorite dance movies?

Grace’s Guide to Prom Dresses and Gowns for 2008

Attention girls age 13-17, your prom is coming. How excited are you?

Here are Grace Magazine’s selections of the most gorgeous prom gowns this season. We want your prom to be a night you’ll remember forever.

Mori Lee – taffeta mermaid gown with a strapless, beaded neckline onto the cascading, draped torso. Raspberry – $275

Mori Lee – strapless bodice features a knotted empire with bands surrounded by beading has a ruched skirt with beads sprinkled into the pick ups. Purple, Raspberry – $290

Jovani – new 2008 prom dress from Jovani, Hot pink fitted gown with intricate stones ornamentation. Elegant ruched top and back. Sexy keyhole back design. This dress will look great on all skin tones. Hot pink – $450

Jovani – beautiful, sexy silk charmeuse prom dress with beaded top v-neck bodice and ruched bust and a wide, fully beaded band that sits at waist. Two thick beaded straps criss-cross in back. A sexy slit in front, center make this Jovani prom dress a winner. Fuschia/Gold – $400

Clarisse – spaghetti strap bias-cut silk charmeuse Beyonce style dress. Bodice is gathered into an empire detail, and is complemented with sexy gathers with a sash around the hip. Gold or Papaya – $196

Clarisse – super cute, short lace dress. Perfect for any event. White, pink or black – $125

Clarisse – short silk satin prom bubble dress from Clarisse’s short dresses. Burgundy or Aqua – $89

Clarisse – lovely silk charmuese spaghetti strap prom dress with sweetheart neckline accompanied by a swarovski crystal bust. Pink, Lilac or Blue. – $125

Tiffany – dramatic pleated satin goddess gown with gold sequin trimmed straps. Black/Gold, Fuschia/Gold, Royal/Gold – $270

Tiffany – sexy, beaded halter dress with deep V neck line, open back, and mermaid style skirt. Red or Purple – $358

Alyce – new 2008 Atelier Alyce prom dress. Sexy deep V neck line, silver polyester underlay, over top a silver netting with silver, gray, and bronze sequins. High empire silver metallic belt with center diamonds and bugle beading. Matching silver netting shawl with bottom beaded trim. – Charcoal. $390

Alyce – new for 2008, a show stopping gown by Alyce designs. Amazing tube top gown with multiple animal printed top bodice and a fish tail bottom. This dress is truly one of a kind and will not last long. Black. – $378

Alyce – #1 best selling Alyce designs prom dress. Super cute teal or silver strapless gowns, embroidered top design that descends down onto the tulle sparkly full bottom. Teal and silver are the new colors for the 2008 prom season. Be the first with this design today. Teal or Silver. – $398

All dresses available at Promgirl.net.

New for 2009: Top 10 Prom Dresses

2009 Jovani Collection
2009 Paris Collection
2009 Mori Lee Collection
2009 Alyce Designs Collection

End of 2008 Blowout Sale – Great Bargains!