Letters To The Editor: CenterStage Review Omitted Performancs

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: September 24, 2009

CenterStage Review Omitted Performances
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Regarding the opening of CenterStage: Some have complained about this "elitist" project to benefit the performing arts. Indeed, classical music and ballet had aristocratic origins, but by the 19th century they had become popular art forms, which was reflected in large performing halls and a corresponding growth in the size of the orchestra.

With the demise of American radio orchestras, we have lost some of the awareness that classical music is for everyone, but the truth remains. Jazz, Broadway, pop and folk music, and dance have made wonderful contributions to our culture. But classical music and ballet, both old and new, can engage the mind and spirit in special ways. Even if one is not a current fan, be grateful that these traditions remain alive for children's sake.

Even if one never attends a performance at CenterStage, be glad that it will benefit Richmond's efforts to establish itself as a world-class city, will further tourism development, and will help attract businesses whose employees care about quality-of-life issues.

That being said, this newspaper's review of CenterStage's gala performances was noteworthy for its omissions. There was no mention of SPARC's magnificent performance of excerpts from "Les Mis" by alumni and current students. It failed to note that Stoner Winslett's uplifting choreography for the Richmond Ballet featured an outstanding commissioned orchestral score by Virginia composer Jonathan Romeo.

Also neglected was the fact that Willie Hinton's riveting choreography for the AART was performed by the award-winning City Dance Theatre, a group of extremely talented and professional teenage dancers from Richmond's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities' dance program at Pine Camp. The City Dance is utterly unique and should become a model for cities across the nation. Bill Eldridge, President, Friends of City Dance.

Richmond.

What Is the President Really Dancing Around?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: The President Barack Obama health care fall tour is in full swing. It is getting very disconcerting to find him jumping out of my television screen almost every time I turn the set on lately.

The purpose of the tour and the attendant endless media speeches and interviews appears to be an attempt by Obama to explain his administration's plans for the reformation of the nation's health care.

Except that there doesn't seem to be any actual plan. Some ideas, cobbled together by the House, seem to be dead in the water. The Senate plan is being debated and amended. Ergo -- there is no plan.

So it appears that what the president is touting morning, noon, and night is nothing more than a personal wish list. A wish list geared to soften up even the most hardened skeptics.

Depending on the venue, the options change like rabbits out of a hat. But at the moment, despite all the cajoling and chastising, there are no options and no rabbits and Obama is talking through that hat.

Why not wait until there is a plan? Why the electronic blitzkrieg? I can only speculate that either the president is in the running for an Emmy, or he's dancing as fast as he can so that the questions won't catch up with his answers.

Greta Shefers.
Chester.

Reader Never Knew He Was a Racist
Editor, Times-Dispatch Kudos to Blair Griggs, "Racism Is the Reason Obama's Not Liked," for pointing out to me why I disapprove of President Barack Obama's policies. I thought it had something to do with my disdain for irresponsible deficit spending and intrusive government.

Clearly, if Hillary Clinton had become president and tried to take over the health care industry I would be 100 percent in favor. If Joe Biden were in charge and wasted $787 billion that we don't have I would have exclaimed, "Spend even more!"

Now that I have been enlightened, I can chalk up my dislike in the 1990s for the policies and behavior of Bill Clinton as childish naIveté.

John Swierczewski.
Mechanicsville.

We Can Make Merit Pay Simple
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Why make the question of merit pay for teachers complicated? A system can be developed similar to that used on the college level. Use a title and scale that shows progress and success. Such titles as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, assistant instructor, etc., can easily be developed and implemented without too much trouble if there is the will to do so.

Gene Barham.
Richmond.