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BAAND Together: A Celebration of New York’s Dance Renaissance Amidst the Subway Series Spirit

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It’s called the Subway Series, pitting New York baseball arch-rivals, the Mets and the Yankees, against each other for a handful of games every season. Since COVID, amid the struggles to bring live performance back, dance has had its own Subway Series, under the moniker ‘BAAND Together,’ with five classically-influenced companies emblematic of New York’s cultural crucible appearing together for a week each summer. This season, the casual outdoor setting at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park has been ditched and the festival moved indoors after innumerable logistical headaches wrought mainly by climate change.

Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Delaney Washington in Forsythe’s Blake Works IV – The Barre Project

© Rosalie O’Connor

Unlike baseball, no one keeps score in ballet.

Well, actually, we do. This season, Dance Theatre of Harlem hit a home run with Blake Works IV by William Forsythe, originator of the superstretchy-bendy-spiraling-hip-skewing brand of ballet. It’s an iteration of The Barre Project – conceived initially for digital streaming in pandemic as Forsythe’s homage to ballet dancers who fought to stay in shape while theatres and studios were shuttered, setting up makeshift ballet barres in their living rooms or kitchens. Reimagined for the proscenium stage, the ballet unfolds as a series of tightly coiled solos and duos anchored to then drifting away from a metallic length of barre that floats in a space so stark it’s disorienting. James Blake’s spare, haunting music reverberates in waves, lyrics intelligible only in fragments, further distorting the sense of space and time.

Ballet Hispánico in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Sombrerísimo

© Rosalie O’Connor

The DTH ensemble take no prisoners, and look like they’re having a blast. Basic ballet movements spool and unspool with startling embellishments and in a dizzying sequence of directions, as if the dancers are patrolling an unseen perimeter. A spin or series of turning jumps will freeze suddenly into a virtuosic balance on one leg, tilted at a dangerous angle.

Lindsey Donnell and Derek Brockington crushed the alternately sinuous and quietly explosive movements in the opening duet. Delaney Washington in an astonishing solo turn reached for the barre as if striving to reach a distant horizon; buffeted by invisible ocean waves she repeatedly resurfaced like an elegant sea bird.

NYCB’s Anthony Huxley and Megan Fairchild in Balanchine’s Duo Concertant

© Rosalie O’Connor

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Very hatted was the other big group piece for Ballet Hispánico. Originally created for an all-male ensemble sporting bowler hats, it became a tour de force for an all-female cast. At BAAND, with an ensemble of five men and one woman, its sly take on the surreal paintings of Magritte projected a sinister vibe – rather like the bowler-hatted detectives hunting down a gangster in Magritte’s The Threatened Assassin. Terrific ensemble work in the passages where dancers clambered and balanced on each other in precarious formations. Omar Rivéra gave a particularly vivid account of a man possibly hiding a dark past. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Balanchine’s Concert Duo felt inert in this program. This despite the electrifying presence of violinist Sean Lee onstage, working out a thorny relationship with pianist Elaine Chelton. Things between New York City Ballet veterans Megan Fairchild and Anthony Huxley seemed inordinately chummy rather than the complicated and sometimes strained artist/muse relationship suggested by Stravinsky’s score and conveyed by other casts, starting with the original duo of Peter Martins and Kay Mazzo. In the emotional final scene, Huxley’s grief and bewilderment at his partner’s vanishing barely registered. We were sad for him the way we’re sad when two teens break up in a 1980s John Hughes movie.

AAADT’s Yannick Lebrun in Hans van Manen’s Solo

© Rosalie O’Connor

Olympian Ailey dancers Chalvar Monteiro, Yannick Lebrun and Patrick Coker – individually powerful and magnetic – spun a tiresome piece of choreography, Solo by Hans van Manen, into gold. A pair of sprightly Bach partitas triggered a rash of skittering, punctuated by virtuosic spinning sequences, hair-raising plunges into arabesque, shrugs and head waggles. Joy came in that final moment when all three slid into the Vitruvian man stance, creating three disparate images of the ideal symmetry of man.

Divine in another sense was the pairing of ABT’s Chloe Misseldine and Thomas Forster in Night Fallsset to Chopin’s E-minor nocturne – serene, wistful, with a faint undercurrent of restlessness. From the moment she sailed onstage in a billowy overhead lift, it was apparent why Misseldine is today’s ballet “It girl.” This nocturne was reportedly written when Chopin was only 16, the dance choreographed by 19-year-old ABT Studio Company member Brady Farrar. He’s in choreography’s major leagues now.

ABT’s Chloe Misseldine and Thomas Forster in Brady Farrar’s Night Falls

© Rosalie O’Connor

In a recent television interview, City Ballet’s artistic directors Jonathan Stafford and Wendy Whelan admitted, “You feel like you start at zero every single year… You have to build the excitement every year, constantly keep pushing to enhance the company.” The buzz around BAAND suggests that a deeper collaboration might do just that. Right now it’s a side hustle for these companies. Imagine the audiences they’d attract if two or more of them merged their dancers and their rep for one season a year, embodying the proudly pluralistic and inclusive image of New York City.

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2024-08-01 21:04:23
#Ballet #Hispánico #Ailey #ABT #NYCB #Dance #Theatre #Harlem #toetotoe

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SAD|| 10 Players Who Lost Everything After Divorce, Number 5 Will Shôck You

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The Hidden Financial Struggles of Footballers: Divorce’s Costly Toll

The glamorous image of professional footballers, with their luxurious lifestyles and multimillion-dollar contracts, often obscures a harsh reality: the financial devastation many endure through divorce. Behind the fame and fortune, several high-profile players have seen their wealth significantly depleted after parting ways with their spouses, a stark reminder that no amount of money can fully shield one of the financial pitfalls of personal relationships gone awry…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

One of the most shocking examples is that of former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who lost not only his properties in England but also custody of his children following a bitter divorce. Despite earning millions during his career, Eboué found himself stripped of almost everything. His situation became a cautionary tale, underscoring that even the wealthiest footballers can fall victim to the financial ruin that divorce can bring.

Eboué is not alone. Football legends such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs have also experienced significant financial losses due to divorce. Henry reportedly paid £10 million to his ex-wife, while Giggs parted with an astonishing £40 million after his marriage ended. Louis Saha and Wes Brown, both former Manchester United players, also suffered substantial financial hits, with Brown declaring bankruptcy despite earning £50,000 per week during his time at the club. His case highlights how even vast earnings can quickly evaporate when faced with legal settlements and financial mismanagement.

David James, the former England goalkeeper, faced a particularly dire situation, losing much of his fortune after divorce and being forced to auction his personal belongings to make ends meet. Similarly, Ray Parlour, another Arsenal great, saw his ex-wife receive half of his £10 million fortune, including a £2.5 million house. Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool star, also faced a hefty settlement, parting with half of his estimated £15 million fortune after his marriage ended.

These are just a few of the many footballers who have faced financial disaster due to divorce. Keith Gillespie, once a key figure in the Premier League, lost over £7 million, leading to his bankruptcy in 2010. Despite earning significant wages during his career, his divorce and poor financial decisions left him in financial ruin. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Perhaps the most shocking case is that of Tendai Ndoro, a Zimbabwean striker who lost everything after registering all his properties in his wife’s name. Following their breakup, she kicked him out of the house, leaving him with nothing. Ndoro’s story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of not protecting one’s assets, even in relationships where trust is implicit.

For footballers, whose careers often peak early, these financial setbacks can be devastating. While their salaries are among the highest in professional sports, the combination of short career spans, legal fees, and divorce settlements can quickly erode their fortunes. Many players also face additional challenges in managing their finances due to a lack of financial education or oversight during their playing years.

These stories underscore the importance of safeguarding personal wealth, especially for high-earning individuals like footballers, who may be more vulnerable to financial upheaval. Proper financial planning, asset protection strategies, and prenups are increasingly necessary tools for protecting one’s earnings and securing a stable future.

In conclusion, while the public sees footballers as insulated by their wealth, the reality is that they are just as susceptible to the financial hardships of divorce as anyone else. The personal struggles behind the scenes reveal that their lives, though glamorous on the surface, are often fraught with the same vulnerabilities and challenges faced by ordinary individuals. These cases serve as sobering reminders that financial security is never guaranteed, even for those at the pinnacle of success.

 

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NFL | The best was yet to come, and then no

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In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.


Posted at 1:13 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.

The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.

Well, no.

As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.

The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.

In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.

Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.

Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.

You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.

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Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh

It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).

We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.

In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.

It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.

Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.

First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »

We all see what you did, Luc.

Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »

You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »

We are Marco.

It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.

Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.

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A young badminton player realizes his deceased father’s dream

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Only 13 years old, badminton-player-honors-fathers-dream-at-nationals/” title=”13-year-old Saskatchewan badminton player honors father’s dream at nationals”>Gautham Sumesh is preparing to realize the dream of his father, who died six months ago: he will soon participate in the National Badminton Championship.

My father was really addicted to badmintonrecalls the Saskatchewan teenager. He really liked that I played.

Gautham Sumesh has been playing badminton since he was old enough to handle a racket. The first time he managed to beat his father, Sumesh Pulavathil, he was offered a drink to celebrate the event.

Sadly, Sumesh Pulavathil died in a road accident near Estevan last October.

Despite the tragedy, the teenager continues to carry his family’s dreams: Gautham Sumesh won the provincial championships this year and is preparing to participate in the National Championship in New Brunswick.

He would be really happyhe believes.

Dreaming of badminton

The young player’s parents left India in 2022 in the hope that their son would become a top badminton player.

: Gautham badminton”,”text”:”When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badminton”}}”>When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badmintonexplains the latter’s mother, Gayathri Ramdas. It is the foundation of our family life.

Her husband put everything in place to help his son play. He bought him shoes and racquets, in addition to devoting many hours to coaching him and other children.

Sumesh Pulavathil (front) was an avid badminton player. (Archive photo)

Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas

Although the family was devastated by Sumesh Pulavathil’s death, there was never any question of the teenager quitting badminton. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Since the death of his father, Gautham Sumesh has undergone intensive training, particularly in preparation for the provincial competition which took place in April.

He remembers that no one knew him when he started competing provincially, but that changed after his victory at the provincial championship.

: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”,”text”:”After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job! “Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”}}”>After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with meexplained Gautham Sumesh.

A portrait of Sumesh Pulavathil (far left) and his family.

Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas

Despite his son’s success in the championship, Gayathri Ramdas believes the victory was bittersweet due to his father’s absence.

Despite everything, she watched her son grow up and demonstrate the values ​​of sportsmanship and good play that she and her husband wanted to instill in him, as he harbored ambitions of becoming a professional badminton player.

I’m little by little catching up on all the dreams we had.

With information from Janani Whitfield

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