Dim Sum

This week's roundup of art news I happen to find interesting:

-The Boston Ballet has announced that it is cutting nearly 20% of the dancers in its company. Times are tough, sure. I get that. But, boo. Just, boo.
-Isaac thinks redneck sports in Maine are kind of like Dadaism. I think he has a point, but a true redneck would probably call him an "overeducated owta-stateah" and send him down the river in one of those giant pumpkins.
-As promised, here are some images from Mikhail Baryshnikov's current photography show, Merce My Way, at 401 Projects. They're not as groundbreaking as everyone's making them out to be (they show movement, while dance photography has traditionally stuck to showing form), but I admit they've grown on me. Even though I think they ought to have been done in film, not digital. What can I say; film is just better.
-Joss Whedon has co-written, and is currently filming, a limited Internet musical series called "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," starring a couple of my favorite actors, presumably in tights. Joss is clearly very good at writing musicals, and I can't wait for his next go. And look, Mom! No producers!
-Zach took me to Northeastern University last weekend to see Anthony Rapp sing and speak, and it was my favorite thing I did during Spring Break. Rapp sang some some of his own songs, some songs from Rent, some songs from other musicals, and some unexpected covers, of which my favorite by far was Courtney Love's "Miss World." And check out this bit of exciting news. Two original cast members? Hells yeah.

I have a crush on Mikhail Baryshnikov, and I don't care who knows it

Mikhail Baryshnikov is an f'ing legend. There have been many dance superstars--your Gelseys, Rudy's, and Dame Margot's. My generation knows Suzanne Farrell because she was on Sesame Street. But Baryshnikov is that rare dancer who is also a household name. As a teenager, I used to rewind his Don Q and Le Corsaire scenes from The Turning Point over and over and over. And, okay, I'll admit it. Also the love scene with Leslie Browne.

He's still dancing at the ripe old age of 59. He'll be 60 next month. But since his body won't do everything it used to, he's branching out into acting. I am a huge fan of this career choice. His short stint on Sex and the City was, dare I say it, hot. And now, he's starring in a compilation of Samuel Beckett shorts with the New York Theater Workshop. He's getting pretty good reviews. What's interesting to note is that in three of the four short plays, Baryshnikov doesn't say a word. It's all physical acting, set to original music by Philip Glass.

Not having seen the performances, I really can't say much by way of review, but I do have two problems with this general concept. Number one, Baryshnikov is the most accomplished person in the world at movement. Sure, he's going to be modest and say it's challenging to move and act in different ways on a different type of stage; but let's be honest, this has got to be child's play for him. Physical acting has been his life since the mid-1950s. Give the guy a challenge! Second, how can one put him on a stage and not take advantage of that sexy Russian accent? It's a shame, I say. A damn shame.