| Soaps? Nah, they’re not real!
Reality is the last thing that strikes you when you see TRP rated shows like Super Dancer or Idea Star Singer on Malayalam channels.
The grand settings, pro-looking performers, ambience on the sets, audience reaction or even the judges. But that doesnt matter. For these are popular and keenly watched programmes.
Whats more, they are replacing soaps on prime time! For the performance-conscious Keralite, any element of competition and emotional play is realistic enough.
Riding on the success of reality shows, channels like Amrita TV, Asianet and Kairali are in the process of launching more such programmes.
While Amrita has two shows, Super Dancer and Vanitharatnam, on the floor, it has begun the countdown for the third Super Star Global.
A classic built by soulmates
There is a little-known and ironic connection between revered American ballerina Suzanne Farrell and the National Ballet of Canada. Farrell made her illustrious name by being the quintessential muse for legendary choreographer George Balanchine at New York City Ballet. Yet a few months before she went to Balanchine's School of American Ballet in 1960, Farrell had auditioned for Toronto's National Ballet School and had been turned down for a scholarship. In her 1990 autobiography Holding on to the Air, Farrell quotes from Celia Franca's rejection letter that included complaints about her posture, sway-back and lack of ballet basics, although she was deemed talented and her good legs and feet were acknowledged. In 1969, when Farrell was a guest artist with the National Ballet of Canada on a very lucrative contract, she took great delight in reminding Franca that "there was a time when you could have had me for free." That contract was the beginning of Farrell's warm relationship with the National, first as a guest artist and, after her retirement as a dancer with NYCB in 1989, as a stager of Balanchine works for the company.
Ballet Hawaii students put best foot forward
Ballet Hawaii presents its Spring Showcase this weekend at the Kaimuki High School Theatre. The performances are a finale for this year's student dancers, and the production features excerpts of classical ballets such as "Coppelia" and "Pas de Quarte," and new works choreographed by Derek Daniels and Minou Lallemand. Four groups of student dancers will present their works developed in the Young Choreographers program. While the 2 p.m. Sunday performance is already sold out, tickets are still available for the 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday performances. Advance tickets are $10 general and $5 students, with prices at the door going for $12 and $7, respectively. Call 521-8600 or e-mail info@ballethawaii.org for more information. FESTIVAL Rules lifted for contest of open mic and poetry The most consistently entertaining event every month has got to be the First Thursdays open mic and poetry slam at Ala Moana Hotel's Hawaiian Hut.
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