(Community Matters) Joined Charles Santos in Paris for a few days – he’s here primarily for today’s performance and dinner at Versailles, and we’ve been seeing lots of dance since I arrived Friday; he arrived Thursday.
A bit of craziness getting here – from Newark, while I was on the telephone catching up with one of my dearest friends in the world (Sonya Cohen Cramer who is recovering on schedule from her operation and has started a final four rounds of chemo), my Paris bound plane loaded and departed while I was on the telephone. When I walked up to the podium and asked what happened to the plane (the sign had changed to Oslo), the attendants were incredulous, saying they’d been paging me. They were sweet nonetheless and immediately booked me a good seat on the next flight – just two hours later.
I’d never experienced anything quite like it – 120+ dancers on stage, one of the largest stages I’d ever seen with lighting, costumes and scenery as elaborate as the grandest opera – wow. The principals were extraordinary – even the chorus extraordinary. Loved the Paris Opera Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty Friday night.
Saturday, we had coffee with one of their principals, Agnes Letestu, who’s dancing in Charles’ annual gala in May – also, Andre Dunsetter, a dapper Frenchman who worked at Neiman Marcus in his 20s during the 60s and who is obviously the man about town (Paris) now, mutual friends with Jeremy Benard.
Saturday afternoon saw Alanzo Kings LINE Ballet at the Theatre National de Chaillot (Tracedero). They are old friends of Charles, performing at TITAS in March.
Saturday night, Paris Opera Ballet’s Park – the 3rd act, including some of the most beautiful pas de deuxs I’ve ever seen. omg, ever been in the Palais Garnier? It’s mind boggling – a Beaux-Arts, building of exceptional opulence constructed from 1861 to 
1875 for the Paris Opera. The ceiling fresco was painted by Chagall.
Ah, and wrapped up the night in St. Germain, at one of my & Steven’s favorite, Left Bank bistros, Boucherie Rouliere.
Were off today to a private party and performance at Versailles – I’m liking traveling with Charlie.
Community Matters 