This quote from the man himself expresses a sentiment applicable across a far wider area of all our lives than just dancing...very pertinent to everything we strive to achieve.
Dancing and ballets would undoubtedly take on a new lease on life, if the customs established by a spirit of fear and jealousy did not in some way close the path of glory.
Jean-Georges Noverre
My brother, always a slick mover, used to pay me ten shillings a dance if he wanted me to get up on the floor with him...sadly he soon lost interest as he always had plenty of older, more willing, glamorous and skillful partners than to risk bankruptcy with me.
Dancing, back in the day, was what generally always ensued at larger social events and celebrations...local halls were in big demand and I remember seeing some very surprisingly adept performances from the older people in my family circle...a great deal of showing off and deft footwork by people who in other contexts were staid and very middle aged!
Having said all that and having any number of energetic and skillful mentors around me, I never took to dancing in any way myself...I was a very shy and retiring child and even now always enjoy being a watcher of others rather than someone who likes to join in the fun and I do love watching ballet.
I had quite a lot of ideas for this inchie, but finally decided that an image of the man of the day, Jean-George, was the way to go...lets give him his big moment in the inchie archives...so many people have been very positively influenced by ballet, either as participants or observers. He lived during interesting times, was acquainted with many amazing talents and achieved so much throughout his long life.
David Garrick called him the "Shakespeare of the dance"...he also numbered Voltaire, Mozart and Fredrick The Great amongst his friends...who could help but to shine, in that company?
I found this portrait of Jean-George as a handsome younger man and thought that was an appropriate tribute...
I am busy constructing a small pocket journal for inclusion in a Mother's Day hamper for the gallery today...members are contributing items suitable for some lucky mum, come the day...this journal is constructed rather differently to my usual method, so I am making it up as I go along...more sewing than usual for me...we will see how it turns out. I will include a pic next week, hopefully.
I have also been making a few mothers' day cards for placing at the gallery...things have been very quiet there lately so I need to think hard about what might sell, jazz things up a tad. It is hard trying to work this out...if one doesn't have enough sales to cover the rent than it can be a bit of a lost cause...
My brother and sister-in-law from Bruny Island called in today, very kindly bringing us a lovely gift of freshly caught fish and squid, and a dozen fresh eggs from their hens...all I had to offer them in return was some empty egg cartons...it seemed more than a bit one sided, but that's life sometimes I suppose. I am sure we will even things up eventually. We are all looking forward to the fish...
Better trot, journal construction awaits...
Bye,
Di