Article in today’s "Observer"

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  • April 15, 2007 at 8:36 pm #50372
    cpbell0033944
    Participant

    My family has the Observer delivered on Sunday morning, though I'm usually the only one to read it, but an article in the arts section today caught my eye.  It discusses the change in female physiques in ballet (I'm not normally a dance-type person, but, hey) and other forms of dance from the waifs of 20 years ago to the physically fit, strong and even slightly buff physiques of today.  Link below:

    http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2057280,00.html

    This was my favourite passage:

    If there's a physical ideal in dance now, it's one of sleek, streamlined, long-muscled power. Forget the vaporous sprites of yesteryear, today's dancers are as likely to be lifting the men as being lifted. Look at the women in British ensembles like Random Dance or the Henri Oguike Dance Company. Look at Sylvie Guillem with her ripped physique and steely limbs. They're amazing. Like comic-book heroines, like Promethea or Lady Deathstrike. What dance has achieved, and fashion hasn't, is a change in its core aesthetic. Strength is a democratic ideal, because anyone can be strong – anyone can be a super-version of themselves.

    I just thought that it was really cool to see female physical strength being celebrated in a mainstream newspaper (albeit a rather more intellectually-aware paper than the usual Sunday redtop rag).

    Edit: wow – this is my 400th post – how time flies!

    April 15, 2007 at 9:05 pm #50373
    AlexG
    Keymaster

    Edit: wow – this is my 400th post – how time flies!

    Congrats on your 400th posting!  ;D

    Kathy Unger's slave?  What happened, did Anja trade you in for another?  😉

    “I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
    ~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

    April 15, 2007 at 9:12 pm #50374
    cpbell0033944
    Participant

    Congrats on your 400th posting!   ;D

    Kathy Unger's slave?  What happened, did Anja trade you in for another?   😉

    No, I'm afraid I was disloyal – I saw pictures of Kathy and I just went gooey.  I love strong but still feminine facial features on a woman, and, in this respect, Kathy JUST pipped Anja to the post.  It's only a hair's breadth, though! ;D
    What do you think of the Observer article, Alex?

    April 15, 2007 at 9:26 pm #50375
    AlexG
    Keymaster

    Seems to be a positive article wherein it concerns a femuscular archtype, which something of a rarity given that it's a mainstream newspaper.  Now if it was one from southern California or even Florida, that probably would be another matter.

    “I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
    ~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

    April 17, 2007 at 3:09 pm #50376
    cpbell0033944
    Participant

    Seems to be a positive article wherein it concerns a femuscular archtype, which something of a rarity given that it's a mainstream newspaper.  Now if it was one from southern California or even Florida, that probably would be another matter.

    It was the fact that it was from my otherwise dear Blighty that made me post it – femuscle isn't on our radar normally. >:(

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