Blog No. 230: Jacques D'Amboise Teaching Dance, The Collections of John and Ellen Whalley, Two Rumi Poems
Jacques D'Amboise/Teaching Dance
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Jacques d'Amboise (1934-2021) and his vision of dance and art education. The first video above is Jacques teaching on a rootop in NYC early on—the second is the Academy Award winning film He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’, released in 1983 that documents his teaching methodology, the kids and their ultimate performance at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in the early 1980s. NDI has been going strong ever since and next year his baby, National Dance Institute, will turn 50.
Jacques was a visionary who firmly believed that the arts should be part of every school's curriculum, equal to math and science. Beginning with a class of boys, teaching kid-friendly dance moves with rigor and joy, accompanied always by live music, fifty years later this wonderful program is thriving in 42 schools in NYC, 13 affiliate programs across the United States and internationally in Shanghai and Beirut, Lebanon.
Look for all kinds of festivities in the next coming year and in the meantime, if you are in New York, their much beloved Event of the Year is taking place on Father's Day weekend--June 14, 15 and 16, 2025--if you want to be infused with a shot of pure inspiration and joy. This is no typical kid's dance performance--come see for yourself. I know that Jacques will be watching down with a big smile. (click the image below to read his bio).
The Collections of John and Ellen Whalley
This is not the first time I have been enchanted by artist John Whalley. I fell in love with his art about 15 years ago and have wanted to meet him ever since.
Today was the day! I made a 10am appointment to visit his studio in Nobleboro, Maine and had the pleasure of not only meeting him and his wonderful wife Ellen, but also getting a tour of his studio, his art and the extensive collections he has of just about everything. I am not a fan of clutter and tend to be more on the minimalist side (my daughter would laugh at that!) but John and Ellen have assembled a curated collection of objects they have picked up at tag sales and flea markets that make me salivate, even just thinking about it. Everything is carefully arranged in sections and what might be a jumble of a mess looks like art itself... John clearly gets his inspiration from these objects and Ellen collaborates by styling these curios into wonderful compositions for John to paint in oils or draw in graphite. These objects take on a life of their own. Below are photos of just a small seletion of their collections in his studio and home.
I have written about John Whalley before in blog no. 40 where you can see his incredibly detailed and intricate photo realist paintings and drawings on steroids..down to every hair on a brush (yes, that brush is a painting):
Two Rumi Poems
THE BEAUTY OF THE HEART
The beauty of the heart
is the lasting beauty:
its lips give to drink
of the water of life.
Truly it is the water,
that which pours,
and the one who drinks.
All three become one when
your talisman is shattered.
That oneness you can’t know
by reasoning.
LET GO OF YOUR WORRIES
Let go of your worries
and be completely clear-hearted,
like the face of a mirror
that contains no images.
If you want a clear mirror,
behold yourself
and see the shameless truth,
which the mirror reflects.
If metal can be polished
to a mirror-like finish,
what polishing might the mirror
of the heart require?
Between the mirror and the heart
is this single difference:
the heart conceals secrets,
while the mirror does not.
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Charity of the Week: American Civil Liberties Union
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.
Pam, you are always a fountain of inspiration.… But today's post is particularly beautiful. Leave it to you to be on a treasure hunt to find beauty and kindness
in this world of ours!!!!