Missy | April 30, 2005

I finally saw a tape of my performance in March and while there’s lots to say about it (mostly that the piece itself is pretty good), I am not pleased with myself. I say that partly out of hyper self-criticism, but partly because physical distance from a mirror (which I can’t always be watching) and physical distance from a stage are two very different things. For one thing, I now see why a former ballet teacher used to pull on my ponytail–I droop my head forward. For another, I should be forced to dance for awhile with my arms attached to my sides; it appears that my arms & shoulders are my energy source, even though I’ve been trying to be so conscious of working more from my pelvis and back. Tomorrow in class, I will focus on keeping my upper body movement more contained and the lower body articulated & the creator of the space around me. (One solution, of course, is that I start ballet classes again.) I wish I had longer legs.

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Missy | April 25, 2005

Gregg Araki has made a movie that doesn’t suck. In fact, as Josh and I were leaving the theater last night we were both quite overcome by how highly we thought of the film. My blurb would be, “Powerful!” Josh’s: “Better than 2046!” The Third Rock from the Sun kid (whom I did not recognize as such until maybe the last 20 minutes) is terrific.

Jean-Luc Godard, on the other hand, made a film that doth very much suck: King Lear. What a stinker. (Incidentally, it’s not an adaptation of the Shakespeare play, much to the dismay of the couple sitting behind me who walked out about 7 minutes into the film.)

I forgot to write about my reaction to the new hit play The Pillowman. Considering the play concerns violence towards children, it’s really freaking funny and Jeff Goldblum’s mannerisms are hilarious. The play itself is a little bit weak, though, and a rather large suspension of disbelief in the narrative left me a little perturbed.

In other news, I found a dance teacher I like, except that in chatting with him after class I learned he’s going on an indefinite teaching hiatus at the end of May.

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Missy | April 23, 2005

You would think by this lack of blog activity that it’s been a flurry of fun and games. You would be wrong. Okay, not entirely true. But, I’m still settling. I haven’t developed a routine, which is kind of disorienting. I like the ability to be impulsive–most people who prefer urban environments do–but I also like a little bit of normalcy. Meanwhile, I find I’m either staying out late or coming home and going to bed at 9 pm.

Anyway. I tried another dance class this week, at Dance Space, which as predicted, is a place where I can see myself fitting in. Plus it’s convenient to get to. I tried Oliver Steele’s class, which is hip-py (not hippie, although he integrates yoga & Tai Chi in his warm up) and features lots of rolling over the ankles in turns (an injury waiting to hapen if I’m not careful) and which killed my back. I went in thinking it was a 90 minute class, and then ducked out at the 2 hour mark (when he was still going strong). Another woman in the hallway indicated that he usually goes 15 minutes over since it’s the last class of the evening. That’s a 2:15 runtime by my calculations. You’d think by my description that I would abandon this class, but that’s not true. No one can walk into a new class for the first time and have it all figured out. After about 3-5 classes, I’ll know better if this is something my body will accomodate and my brain will find fulfilling.

Today I’m going back for an advanced class with another teacher. I plan to stand in the back and not get in anyone’s way (which I did on Tuesday; I don’t know how to dance small, it seems). Then it’s off to BAM where my curiosity leads me to Jean-Luc Godard’s likely strange and probably crappy 1987 version of King Lear. My twin, Molly Ringwald, is in it. That reminds me: One thing I miss about DC (it’s the little things) is a woman who works at the E Street Cinema, who always–meaning, every time I was there, which was often–called me “Miss Reingold”. She means Ringwald, of course. And I corrected her, both on my true identity as well as the correct last name, but still it stuck.

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Missy | April 12, 2005

…2046 is a big sprawling mess. And I don’t mean that in a kind Paul Thomas Anderson sort of way. There are about 6 different films going on in one film with cohesion occuring in all of about 4 minutes of total screen time (spread out among the last 15 or so minutes, out of 130 minutes total), with the redeeming factors being the usual visual splendor and Tony Leung’s presence (some might also argue Zhang Ziyi’s presence, but I was slow to warm to her). Wong Kar Wai has reduced himself to making the same film over & over (see also: Eros) since he hit perfection with In the Mood for Love. Please stop messing with a good thing, or at least think it out more fully before creating a sequel (which this is). I hate to say it, but the incredibly moving end of ItMfL (the Angkor Wat scene) seems more or less trite now simply because it is referenced repeatedly in 2046.

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Missy | April 9, 2005

Today I took a Dunham technique class at the beautiful studios at Ailey on the recommendation of my former teacher who claimed, “I’ll warn you that it’s hard on the body”. Holy crap was he right. Not hard on the body as in my knees and back are hurting now, but hard as in I feel like I am in the world’s worst shape. The barre warm-up was punishing. First my calves were screaming, then my back, then my hips. And then we repeated some of the exercises and in the center of the room. In terms of conditioning, I wanted to cry and give up. In terms of complexity, the class was way, way too easy for me. By the time we were moving across the floor (usually the time when I’m used to a class getting increasingly difficult), I was barely breaking a sweat. Hmm. Although I think the class would undoubtedly make me stronger (and I could use it–this body has its weaknesses of which I am reminded all the time), I don’t know that it will make me a better dancer; and given my difficulty with some of the exercises, I’m hardly ready to move up a level. I know this: I need to dance more, not just condition my body. This week I’m hoping to try out Merce Cunningham’s studio (probably very complex) and an intermediate/advanced class at Dance Space (probably both complex & unforgiving on my body). Soon I will find what I am looking for.

UPDATE: I have acquired a bizarre habit of saying/thinking “I have to go into town” to do such-and-such, when really I mean “Manhattan”, or, “the city”. Why. It’s like I live on a farm and have to go to the General Store so I can pick up a new pair of Pumas.

I also scored a ticket for the Trisha Brown Dance Company on Wednesday. I’ve never seen her/them but I plan to fully explore all the city’s (er, the town’s) luminaries while they are still actively working. Or until I feel the pain of my considerably higher rent.

UPDATE 4/11/05: In the practice of not commenting on this blog about my job, I will not comment on my first day except to say I’m feeling overwhelmed.* That’ll pass, I hope. I dashed out to take class at Merce Cunningham, which is located on Bethune way in the West Village and a bit of a hike from the trains. I was running late and ran–and I do mean ran, in three inch heels; luckily they were my comfortable pair of three inch heels–and got there with a mere 5 minutes to spare. Good thing, because the class felt good. Still not what I am used to, but something I think I intend to pursue. And they don’t frown upon wearing socks. (With all that footwork, socks are a big help. Tube socks are the best!)

*Seriously, you’ll not hear another peep out of me.

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Missy | April 8, 2005

I never did do that Ode to DC like I had envisioned. Ah well. In any case, I would like to provide my initial reactions to Life as a New Yorker, split out by category.

Neighborhood:
PROS: Everything I need is within about a 2-3 block radius. Well, except subways, but I’m used to that. Nice brownstones. It’s pretty here!
CONS: Nothing thus far. But, I’m finding my sleep has been less than fulfilling. It’s not noisier per se at night, just *different*.
Side comment: I keep hearing an ice cream truck.

Apartment:
PROS: It’s *much* bigger than my old place, and considerably bigger than I recalled from my initial walk-through. Now that my furniture is in place, I realize I’ve still got some room to spare. And it’s all-around super nice, with a skylight. Considering what I am paying for these digs it had better be nicer.
CONS: 4th-floor walk-up. Lack of closet space. Sloping floors (I find myself rolling backwards away from my desk from time to time, which is kind of funny now but which is sure to become annoying in the near future until I buy a rug for under the chair). The lack of a view. I was spoiled in DC, and my view here is something approaching Rear Window. But if it’s views I want, all I need to do is walk about 6 blocks to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Food:
PROS: I cannot yet comment on this, but living near Court and Smith Streets has its advantages; plus the availability of delivery options is, in a word, awesome.
CONS: Whole Foods is all the way in Manhattan. But there’s plenty of fresh produce and other things in my area. I can’t complain.

Dance:
PROS: I have yet to make it to a class–hopefully that will change come tomorrow, but the possibilities are virtually endless. Seriously: all styles, all techniques, all great teachers..it’s all here. UPDATE: How could I forgot to mention live musicians as the accompaniment?
CONS: I miss Helanius.

Film:
PROS: Too many to mention, but I would like to brag for a minute that knowing a film critic–and a very generous one at that–is pretty neat. I’ve been invited as a +1 to a screening of Wong Kar Wai’s 2046 next week.
CONS: None, save for feeling overwhelmed. Not only do films open here first, but the retrospectives and unusual screenings are pretty much constant.

Subway:
PROS: Express trains. Being able to drink from a bottle of water without fear of getting arrested. And so far, not having to wait very long for trains. Also, I live near multiple lines.
CONS: The lack of signs informing you when the next train will be arriving, and a lack of climate control. (Good job, DC.) Rats scurrying around the trackbeds, which are gross.
Side comment: Last night after leaving a screening of and Q&A for the 80’s film Testament (see unusual screenings mention above) near Lincoln Center, Josh pointed out a Caution sign for the presence of rat poison. In case anyone is thinking of licking the rails or some other part of the subway system, DON’T DO IT!

DMV:
PROS: A ten-minute-shorter exerience compared with the District of Columbia DMV. Also, it’s next door to Target.
CONS: Lack of payoff at the end of it all. I have a temporary paper license until the official one appears in the mail in two weeks (with undoubtedly the world’s most unflattering photo–I wasn’t ready! And it was windy outside that day!)

Self:
PROS: I am assimilating as well as can be expected, and I’ve developed a knack for pretending that I know where I’m going when I get out of the subway, even when I have to backtrack or walk in circles (like I did when I went to the movies today at BAM–and it was RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. What am I, blind?)
CONS: Hearing New York accents all around makes me feel like an intruder. I know that’s silly since most people I know here don’t have them. I’ll feel better when my new license gets here. Also, the water is doing funny things to my hair. I’m on effing dial-up right now, so that sucks, too.

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Missy | April 4, 2005

Last night I had a moving anxiety dream. First, my people were very late, but it was also the case that about 5 other people were using the building’s elevator for moving as well, and I live on the 8th floor (the last bit is true). When my guys showed up, one of the them was on crutches because of an amputated (!) leg, and they had a van that was equipped like something out a 70’s teen sex romp movie, with a make-shift couch and mini-fridge in the back. Basically, there was no room in the back of this van. The attached trailer was an open flat-bed type thing that would hold about 2 boxes that needed to be secured with bungee cords to prevent them from flying off into the highway.

Then I woke up.

(I am using a small-service mover rather than a full-service company w/ a huge truck. Is it obvious that I have been stressing out about the amount of crap I am moving, even though I gave the movers a list?)

If the load-in goes okay, I can calm down. Note to Lane and Anne: I have my suspicions that it was that super hot sauce on those chicken wings I ate last night that messed with my brain.

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Missy | April 1, 2005

I wish I could say that my comment (the first one) over at Mihow’s site was me playing along with her elaborate and convincing ruse, but no. I was even thinking, “Wow, I just talked to her yesterday; I can’t believe she didn’t tell me, but she & Toby must have their reasons.” So for future reference, if you want to play an April Fool’s joke on me, it’s almost guaranteed to work.

And also: my moving has NOT been an elaborate and convincing ruse culminating with a “Ha! Ha!” on this date. I am not that clever.

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