Sunday, January, 4th

Daniel Nagrin, Solo

In those youthful days when life seemed boundless, one summer in Connecticut we slept in a pup tent to the sound of chirping crickets and badgers screeching in the middle of the night.

Daytime was quieter and spent in ballet and modern dance class: diamond shaped plies contrasted Martha Graham exercises of contract and release "Breathe in/breathe out." Most, if not all, of the summer dance teachers and choreographers lived in New York, the epicenter of the modern dance and theater world.

One day at lunch we said to our teacher Daniel Nagrin, "It seems all arrows lead to New York."

"You can get stabbed on an arrow," he replied.

Nevertheless, some time later when an opportunity to live and work in Manhattan arose, we packed our bags for New York without hesitation.


Lee Nagrin and Daniel Nagrin

In New York we got to know Lee Nagrin who created her own performance pieces in her studio on Bleecker Street and performed in those of avant-garde artists like Meredith Monk and Ping Chong.

Mr. Nagrin eventually moved to Arizona and retired. When a journalist asked him in 2007 if he missed New York, he exclaimed, "Ha! I do, I do, I do."

We will miss Daniel Nagrin. Fortunately his work is preserved for future generations of dancers to perform and audiences to enjoy. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Steele Nagrin.

Time, Space and Dynamics

The only space that interests me
is the distance
between you and me.

The only time that interests me
is the little we have left
to make a decent gesture.

The only dynamic that interests me
is the tenderness of your embrace
and the memory of the fist
that broke my face.

I look to the time when
there will be sweet air
and room for all.

Then will I have the leisure
to arrange three soft lines
on a sheet of pebbly paper
and listen to them
sing to each other


- Daniel Nagrin, Choreography and the Specific Image

» PermaLink

Thursday, January, 1st


Ano novo feliz

Glückliches Neues Jahr

Nouvelle année heureuse


Reminding us of a Jean-Pierre Jeunet film, a little girl makes up a story. We celebrate a New Year.



In French with English subtitles.

» PermaLink

Saturday, December, 27th
Earth Kitt




We will never forget our dinner with Eartha Kitt and her devoted publicist, Andrew E. Freedman, at Elaine's Restaurant in Manhattan. Ms. Kitt was full of charm and captivating show business stories. She was a true lady and an evening in her company was the stuff of dreams.




Eartha Kitt was one of the guiding influences on cabaret art in the 20th century. She had an influence that will last far beyond her 81 years.

- Dame Shirley Bassey

Obituary from Times Online

» PermaLink

 

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2009: January

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