Ditto

homans in the late 70s (photo: carolyn george)

Jennifer Homans, critic and author of the recently published Apollo's Angels (A History of Ballet), explains her decision to leave PNB in order to pursue education:

Ms. Homans left Chicago to pursue more serious training, first at the North Carolina School of the Arts, then at the School of American Ballet, at a time when Balanchine still reigned. She had hoped to ascend to City Ballet, but when Balanchine made his annual visit to select dancers for his company, she was out with an injury. 

Picking herself up, she traveled west, to San Francisco Ballet and finally to Pacific Northwest Ballet, where she danced for four years. But at 26 she chose to stop.

“I was bored,” Ms. Homans said. “It’s strange to say, because I still loved to dance. But you’re in a studio many hours a day, and often you’re waiting for someone else to come up with ideas. At a certain point I wanted to be the one with the ideas.” 

*

Currently reading:

The Singing (CK Williams)
Behind My Eyes (Li-Young Lee)

These Are the Days

monastery: five miles and 800 cliff-side steps

petra: hint of what's to come

wadi rum

walking in astonishment

Storming the Castle: Ajloun

 Approximately 50 cents per person grants access to the incredible structure that is Qal'at Ar-Rabad. The castle, which helped Arabs defeat the Crusaders eight centuries ago, is in terrific condition. Yesterday, we spent two or so hours wandering its courtyard and various indoor levels. There's a small museum on the premises where K. and I were delighted to find a display of ancient pipes and oil-fueled bombs made of stone. Bonus points: the rare scent of pine trees in air. 

valley view

east wing in progress

tunnels and archways

indoor mazes