Begin the beguine - Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell

155,299 views Jan 13, 2024

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell in one of the greatest tap dance performances ever filmed.1940 FRED ASTAIRE (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, choreographer and presenter. He is widely regarded as the "greatest popular-music dancer of all time". He received numerous accolades including an Honorary Academy Award, three Primetime Emmy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was honored with the Film Society of Lincoln Center tribute in 1973, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, and AFI Life Achievement Award in 1980. He was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Television Hall of Fame in 1989. Astaire's career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He starred in more than 10 Broadway and West End musicals, made 31 musical films, four television specials, and numerous recordings. As a dancer, he was known for his uncanny sense of rhythm, creativity, and tireless perfectionism. Astaire's most memorable dancing partnership was with Ginger Rogers, whom he co-starred with in 10 Hollywood musicals during the classic age of Hollywood cinema, including Top Hat (1935), Swing Time (1936), and Shall We Dance (1937). Astaire's fame grew in films like Holiday Inn (1942), Easter Parade (1948), The Band Wagon (1953), Funny Face (1957), and Silk Stockings (1957). The American Film Institute named Astaire the fifth-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood cinema in 100 Years... 100 Stars. ELEANOR TORREY POWELL (November 21, 1912 – February 11, 1982) was an American dancer and actress. Best remembered for her tap dance numbers in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s, she was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's top dancing stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Powell appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and most prominently, in a series of movie musical vehicles tailored especially to showcase her dance talents, including Born to Dance (1936), Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), Rosalie (1937), and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940). She retired from films in the mid-1940s but resurfaced for the occasional specialty dance scene in films such as Thousands Cheer. In the 1950's she hosted a Christian children's TV show and eventually headlined a successful nightclub act in Las Vegas. She died from cancer at 69. Powell is known as one of the most versatile and powerful female dancers of the Hollywood studio era.

A dinner concert for a cause

The Children's First One Thousand Days Coalition (CFDC), in partnership with The Manila Hotel, will present a dinner concert to raise funds for the nutrition efforts of non-government organizations helping government address malnutrition of Filipino infants during the crucial period from conception to their second birthday.

The pre-Valentine concert called "The Greatest Love of All" will be held on February 9, 6 pm, at the Tent City of The Manila Hotel.

Main performers include former press secretary Mike Toledo, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, and The Manila Hotel president and former Senator Joey Lina.

Other performers include Beverly Salviejo, Nina Campos, Jenny Sugay, Rachelle Rule, Rachel Verns, Pam Esquivel, Bobby Alvarez, Egay Rubiano, Jeffrey Panado, Egay Banaag, and the Adeodatus Children's Choir (Baseco) with Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. Rodel Colmenar leads the music direction, with George Sison-Tagle and Paul Dizon supervising the overall direction of the concert.

CFDC member organizations include Rotary International, Lions Club International, Kiwanis International, Junior Chamber International, The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, The Fraternal Order of Eagles - Philippine Eagles, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Rizal, Save the Children Philippines, World Vision Philippines, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives, Crusade Against Violence, and others.

In tandem with government, the CFDC was formed to confront a serious problem troubling the Philippines: malnutrition during a child's First One Thousand Days of Life – a very critical period when the impact of poor nutrition can be profound, long-lasting, even irreversible.

The Greatest Love of All is not merely an entertainment spectacle but a collaborative initiative to generate funds for the nutrition program of NGOs in the villages.

For details, contact John Gacutan at 09620668526 or +632 85270011 extension 1006. 

Here Be A Dragon

by Maureen Buja, Interlude

With a joyous call on his horn, Siegfried announces his presence in the great forest of Fafner. Turned into a dragon by the lure of the Ring, Fafner, one of the two giants who built Valhalla for Wotan, is being sought by Siegfried. Siegfried, who has been raised by the dwarf Mime, is afraid of nothing and has been sent by Mime to defeat Fafner. Mime, of course, has his own agenda in this – after Siegfried has killed the dragon, Mime will offer him a poisoned cup and gain the ring of power.

Daniel Brenna (Siegfried) from Finnish National Opera © Ralph Larmann

Siegfried arrives at Fafner’s cave where Woton the Wanderer, who wants to see the battle, and Alberich, who originally stole the gold that made the ring from Rhinemaidens but lost it all to Wotan, are also waiting.

With his horn call, Siegfried has awoken Fafner, who soon emerges. 

He’s defeated by Siegfried and in his last moments, warns Siegfried about the fatal qualities of the ring.  

As Siegfried withdraws his sword, he’s splashed with Fafner’s hot blood and burns himself. He sucks his burn and, in taking in Fafner’s blood, can understand the bird he couldn’t understand earlier. He’d seen Fafner’s ring without interest before but now, on the advice of the bird, keeps the ring. 

Mime appears with his congratulatory drink, which Siegfried, now with the dragon’s blood advantage, realizes his danger and kills Mime. 

© South China Morning Post

And so the dragon is defeated, his enemies are disposed of, and the naïve Siegfried learns about a new trial he can try: the bird has told him about a woman sleeping on a rock surrounded by magic fire! Off to discover if he can complete his hero’s education by learning fear from this woman, Siegfried sets off again on his next adventure.

And so we look at Chinese New Year 2024: the Year of the Wood Dragon. The dragon symbolizes power, nobleness, honour, luck, and success. Wood brings vitality and creativity. This is the year for people who want to change the world. The year for perfectionists who are goal-oriented. It’s been 60 years since our last Wood Dragon year, so look around carefully for the last set of goal-oriented perfectionists born as Wood Dragons. They include Boris Johnson and Keanu Reeves, actress Sandra Bullock and vice-president Kamala Harris, musicians Robert Trujillo of Metallica and Eddie Vedder of Peal Jam – it should make for an interesting year!

 

The Ultimate Vivaldi Quiz

Quiz Image

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi: an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. You may know his most famous work, but how much do you know about his life, family and death?