I'm blogging at the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada blog today

Join me at the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada blog for a look back at one of my day jobs in It's a Glamorous Life, All Right.

5 on Friday -- Set 233

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

I'm blogging at the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada this Friday about a former day job -- or in my case, mainly an evenings-and-weekends job -- that reflects on romance writing in so many ways.

Of course, as a former usher of a performing arts theater, I was the observer of the ballet world and not a participant. However, there are popular misconceptions about both ballerinas and romance writers, and in my post I explore those as well as how both art forms mirror one another.

So what better set to post this week than a ballet set? Here are five of my favorite variations, or solo dance pieces.

1 - Dulcinea variation from Don Quixote -- Nina Ananiashvili

She dances this deceptively difficult piece with the grace and lightness that can only be achieved by strength and endurance.

2 - Philippe's variation from Flames of Paris -- Ivan Vasiliev

His strength and the height he achieves in his jumps are allowed to be on full display as a male dancer.

3 - Act I Pas de Deux (dance for two) from The Nutcracker -- Vladimir Shklyarov and Ksenia Zhiganshina

Okay -- not a variation, but a duet. This male dancer is one of my favorites -- ballet is essentially a moving sequence of geometric patterns created by bodies, and his body has exquisite line. He's also a consummate partner, anticipating her every move.

4 - The Death of Hilarion from Giselle -- Kazuo Kimura and the corps of the Tokyo Ballet

I'm always about dramatic power over technique, so this scene from Giselle has always been one of my favorite parts. The villager Hilarion must show exhaustion with his upper body while continuing to use strength during his jumps with his lower body. It's not an easy thing to let the audience in on how tiring it is to dance, when a dancer's entire career is focused on hiding the effort.

5 - Black Swan Coda, Act III variation from Swan Lake -- Viktoria Tereshkina and the Mariinsky Ballet

This is one of the most famous female pyrotechnic roles, culminating in 32 fouettees (the pirouettes with a kick.) This is one of the few against-type female roles that showcase the more aggressive side of female dancing. Odile, the Black Swan is an evil-twin character to the elegant, giving Odette, the White Swan. Here Odile tricks Prince Siegfried into declaring true love for her, when he thinks Odile is Odette, thereby cursing Odette to remain a swan forever.

Not only do I get all the tragic drama in this section of the ballet, but who can resist the thrill of those 32 fouettees?  

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today

Join me at The Popculturedivas for Good Things Come to Those Who Wait.  

5 on Friday -- Set 232

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

A mellow set for a mainly-rainy summer week. Unlike most people, a set of rainy days doesn't depress me. It merely follows the entire trend of my life, where I'm attracted to the things that don't spark most people.

I even like walking in the rain -- and heaven forbid -- getting soaked, as long as I can walk in the house and get changed. 

1 - Mother of Violence -- Peter Gabriel

2 - Slave to Love -- Brian Ferry

3 - It's Good to Be King -- Tom Petty

4 - Trainspotting (from the soundtrack) -- Primal Scream

5 - Sleepy Maggie -- Ashley MacIsaac featuring Mary Jane Lamond

5 on Friday -- Set 231

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

It's anniversary time again -- our 22nd anniversary, to be exact.

This week's set is dedicated to all you lovers out there.

1 - Some Enchanted Evening -- Placido Domingo

2 - The Man I Love -- Billie Holiday

3 - So Nice -- Sergio Mendes and Brasil 65 featuring Wanda Sa

It's also Wanda's birthday today! 

4 - Night and Day -- Frank Sinatra

5 - When You Wish Upon a Star -- Rod Stewart

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas today

Join me at The Popculturedivas for My Own Mr. Right.  

5 on Friday -- Set 230

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Happy 4th of July to my American family and friends! If you're not on the eastern seaboard, may you have a great long weekend. For those of us in the path of Hurricane Arthur, take cover and be safe.

Up here in the Great White North, we celebrated Canada Day on Tuesday, which split up the work week into manageable little chunks.

Now that July has arrived, it's time for my monthly feature for 5 on Friday -- The Hit Makers.

Once a month I'm going to feature the songs that launched careers. I'll be looking at different musical styles and the groups or singers from those styles who I love the best.

To celebrate my home and native land, here are five of my favourite Canadian artists and the songs that brought them to the masses.

1 - High School Confidential -- Rough Trade

2 - Lovers in a Dangerous Time -- Barenaked Ladies

3 - Constant Craving -- k d lang

4 - Building a Mystery -- Sarah McLachlan 

5 - Brother Down -- Sam Roberts