{"id":223427,"date":"2026-04-14T18:42:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T22:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/?p=223427"},"modified":"2026-05-24T19:26:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T23:26:52","slug":"images-of-remembered-passion-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/images-of-remembered-passion-revisited\/","title":{"rendered":"Images Of Remembered Passion Revisited"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Luminations<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">a glimpse of my authentic life<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_1 et_pb_section et_pb_fullwidth_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_fullwidth_menu_0 et_pb_fullwidth_menu et_pb_fullwidth_menu--without-logo et_pb_fullwidth_menu--style-left_aligned et_dropdown_animation_fade et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_text_align_right et_pb_text_align_right-tablet et_pb_text_align_right-phone et_pb_module\" id=\"menu_font_size\"><div class=\"et_pb_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_menu__wrap\"><div class=\"et_pb_menu__menu\"><nav class=\"et-menu-nav fullwidth-menu-nav\"><ul id=\"menu-rr-divi\" class=\"et-menu fullwidth-menu nav downwards\"><li id=\"menu-item-2319\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-home menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-2319\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li 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href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/div><div class=\"et_mobile_nav_menu\"><div class=\"mobile_nav closed\"><span class=\"mobile_menu_bar\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_2 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_flex_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_3_5 et_flex_column_3_5_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_0 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rose-RR-blog-750x500-web.jpg\" title=\"Rose-RR-blog-750x500 web\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rose-RR-blog-750x500-web.jpg 750w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rose-RR-blog-750x500-web-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 750px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223432\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_2_5 et_flex_column_2_5_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_post_title_0 et_pb_post_title et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_title_container\"><h1 class=\"entry-title\">Images Of Remembered Passion Revisited<\/h1><p class=\"et_pb_title_meta_container\">by <span class=\"author vcard\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/author\/wprr\/\" title=\"Posts by Rachelle Rogers\">Rachelle Rogers<\/a><\/span> | <span class=\"published\">Apr 14, 2026<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Audiobooks<br \/>Memoirs<br \/>Dance Photography<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider et_pb_space et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>I\u2019ve been reading a lot lately, mostly audiobooks. Wanting to stretch the four credits left on my Audible account that have to last me until renewing in November, I often borrow from the Front Range Digital Library.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_4 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_16_24 et_flex_column_16_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Books I\u2019ve recently read by ear and would recommend include:<\/p>\n<p>* <em>All The Beauty In The World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me<\/em> by Patrick Bringley<br \/>* <em>Remarkable Creatures<\/em> by Tracy Chevalier<br \/>* <em>Great Big Beautiful Life <\/em>by Emily Henry<br \/>* <em>The Correspondent<\/em> by Virginia Evans<br \/>* <em>Mad Honey <\/em>by Jodi Picoult &amp; Jennifer Finney<br \/>* <em>We All Live Here<\/em> by Jojo Moyes<\/p>\n<p>Books I wanted to like, but didn\u2019t, include:<\/p>\n<p>* <em>The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny <\/em>by Kiran Desai<br \/>* <em>Audition <\/em>by Katie Kitamura<br \/>* <em>Judge Stone <\/em>by James Patterson &amp; Viola Davis<\/p>\n<p>One of the audiobooks that popped up on my library search was a memoir that unexpectedly rekindled thoughts of my love of the performing arts. The book is <em>The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir <\/em>by Kelly Bishop, who was also the narrator. For those who don\u2019t know who Kelly Bishop is, for one thing, she was the original Sheila in the 1975 Broadway production of <em>A Chorus Line <\/em>for which she won a Tony award. And she had a remarkable career in every facet of performance from Broadway chorus dancer through Broadway actor and singer (<em>A Chorus Line; Anything Goes)<\/em> to film (<em>Dirty Dancing<\/em>), and television.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_6 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_8_24 et_flex_column_8_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_1 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-The-Beauty-In-The-World-web.jpg\" title=\"All The Beauty In The World web\" width=\"800\" height=\"1196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-The-Beauty-In-The-World-web.jpg 800w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/All-The-Beauty-In-The-World-web-480x718.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223434\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_5 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_7 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>You might know her best as Loralei\u2019s mother and Rory\u2019s grandmother in the long-running 2000-2007 TV sitcom <em>Gilmore Girls<\/em> written by the incomparable Amy Sherman-Palladino. I often thought that Amy Sherman-Palladino\u2019s dialogue, when it was meant to be witty, although censored for broadcast television, had moments as speedy and nuanced and quirky as a Robin Williams monologue. And when it was meant to be serious, it came off right on the mark.<\/p>\n<p>It was decades after the series had ended its seven year run on mainstream TV that I came upon <em>Gilmore Girls<\/em>. By then, it had been picked up by Netflix, and I admit I got hooked and binge-watched all seven seasons. I also admit that I did it more than once. I hardly turn on my television these days, but in the past, I appreciated TV writers with original brilliance in both quirky comedy as well as serious drama performed by outstanding actors. For example, there was David E. Kelley\u2019s <em>Ally MacBeal <\/em>(1997\u20142002). And, of course, Aaron Sorkin\u2019s <em>The West Wing <\/em>(1999\u20142006)<em>. <\/em>Although I confess that not being \u201cpolitical\u201d I didn\u2019t always understand exactly what was happening on <em>The West Wing<\/em>, I actually watched all seven seasons at <em>three<\/em> different times over the years.<\/p>\n<p>As for the live performing arts, I\u2019ve came to enjoy and appreciate reading about the authentic journeys of people in that arena. Dance, theatre, music, film have all been a source of great upliftment to me since my teenage years. In high school in The Bronx, we were offered $1 student tickets to Broadway shows and other performances. I remember going to see the Bolshoi Ballet with Maya Plisetskaya in 1962 (although I don\u2019t remember whom I went with) at the old Metropolitan Opera House when I was sixteen. I had to take an elevator up to my seat in the last balcony. But there, on stage, was the graceful (although very small) swan-like presence of the Bolshoi\u2019s <em>Prima Ballerina Assoluta<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_6 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_8 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_16_24 et_flex_column_16_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_2 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maya-Plisetskaya-swan-lake-web.jpg\" title=\"Maya Plisetskaya swan lake web\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maya-Plisetskaya-swan-lake-web.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maya-Plisetskaya-swan-lake-web-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Maya-Plisetskaya-swan-lake-web-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1200px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223435\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Maya Plisetskaya as Odette in\u00a0<em>Swan Lake<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_9 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_8_24 et_flex_column_8_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_7 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_10 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>And as a senior, I and three other close friends would often go together to the theatre, meeting for dinner and drinks at a steakhouse in Manhattan, Mr. Richard Premium Steaks, which we called Mr. Richard\u2019s. Although we were seventeen, we appeared sophisticated enough never to be considered underage. Among the plays we saw were <em>The Sound of Music<\/em>, <em>Calculated Risk, Milk and Honey, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. <\/em>Afterwards, we shared a cab back to The Bronx, the driver dropping each of us off at our separate addressses.<\/p>\n<p>Two other audiobook memoirs I loved were Barbra Streisand\u2019 forty-eight hour conversational reading of <em>My Name Is Barbra<\/em>, the retelling of her extraordinary life. And <em>The Swans of Harlem<\/em>: <em>Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History<\/em> by Karen Valby. An amazing rendering of \u201ca legacy erased,\u201d\u00a0<em>The Swans of Harlem<\/em> includes the story of the beginnings of the first black classical ballet company<em> Dance Theatre of Harlem<\/em>, one of the many great companies I had the privilege of seeing perform in the 1980\u2019s, when Arthur Mitchell was still the Artistic Director.<\/p>\n<p>Reading both of these books, together with <em>The Third Gilmore Girl<\/em>, brought up memories of my at times near obsession with dance. At twenty-nine, I began seriously taking adult beginning ballet classes twice a week. In eight months, I had progressed to intermediate level, taking four classes a week, although it hurt like hell and I could never do a <em>pirouette en dehors<\/em> to save my life. I was then invited to advanced level, but I stayed at intermediate, continuing to take classes on and off until I was forty-five. I also began writing freelance on dance in South Florida\u2014a review here, an article there. For a short time, I wrote a column for the Ft. Lauderdale News\/Sun Sentinel called <em>Divertimento<\/em>: <em>Understanding the Ballet<\/em>. In it, I educated readers about upcoming dance performances by companies such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, The Houston Ballet. I also began collecting dance videos and amassed an impressive collection which was bought, bartered for, bootlegged, and included tapes smuggled by a friend and Russian ballet obsessive out of the then Soviet Union. And I became interested in dance photography. Thinking of this reminded me of a short piece I wrote on a much earlier incarnation of my blog in 2013 about my love of Max Waldman\u2019s amazing dance images. Since I don\u2019t think even five people ever actually read it, I thought I\u2019d share it here.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_8 et_pb_row et_pb_row_1-4_1-2_1-4 et_block_row et_block_row_1-4_1-2_1-4 et_animated\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_11 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_12 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_icon_0 et_pb_icon et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">\uf004<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_13 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_9 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_14 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_8 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Images Of Remembered Passion<\/h5>\n<p>You know how it is when a passing comment by a friend triggers a thought that leads to another thought that culminates in a long forgotten memory? I had that happen to me the other day. It started with mention of an auction house here in Asheville, NC, which inspired thoughts about things of great beauty, which was enhanced by an image posted on Facebook of NYC Ballet\u2019s <em>Vienna Waltzes<\/em>, which led me to think of Max Waldman, whose incredible dance photography had been such an inspiration to me decades ago.<\/p>\n<p>For a while, in the 1970\u2019s and 80\u2019s, I wrote freelance on dance for a few South Florida publications. I also developed a passion for dance photography. I was already an ardent admirer of Martha Swope\u2019s rehearsal and stage photos when I was introduced to Max Waldman\u2019s art. I was blown away. Taken with black and white film in a very small studio, the photos were impossibly alive, giving the illusion of capturing the finest moment in the midst of movement that seemed to span a vast amount of time and space, or the most intimate expression coaxed from the depth of a soul. And all the photos utilized a grainy texture with accentuated light and shadow, which ironically enhanced their elegance. It made one feel as if she were being allowed a gossamer glimpse into the etheric and often private world behind the veil.<\/p>\n<p>As I graced my walls with Waldman prints, I felt the desire to try my own hand at photographing dancers. I had\u00a0no illusions of grandeur, but I often liked, if at all possible, to\u00a0experience firsthand those art forms I most enjoyed. I craved a larger understanding of and appreciation for what might be involved. I was already taking both studio and performance photos of a pre-professional company of exceptionally gifted young dancers whose artistic directors were close friends of mine. But I had hoped for an opportunity to shoot\u2014informally and just for my own practice\u2014a professional company.<\/p>\n<p>One day, in the early \u201980\u2019s, the goddess smiled, and with the help of my editor at the Fort Lauderdale News\/Sun Sentinel, I got permission to photograph closed rehearsals of American Ballet Theatre during their Miami season\u2014both\u00a0<em>Raymonda Variations<\/em>, and ABT\u2019s premier of\u00a0<em>Grand Pas\u00a0Romantique<\/em>, Fernando Bujones\u2019s first choreographic attempt.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_10 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_15 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_6_24 et_flex_column_6_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_16 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_18_24 et_flex_column_18_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_3 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MarakovaWaldman_1000x800-web.jpg\" title=\"MarakovaWaldman_1000x800 web\" width=\"1000\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MarakovaWaldman_1000x800-web.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MarakovaWaldman_1000x800-web-980x784.jpg 980w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MarakovaWaldman_1000x800-web-480x384.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1000px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223438\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_9 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Natalia Makarova in <em>Other Dances\u00a0 <\/em>Photograph by Max Waldman<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_11 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_17 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_8_24 et_flex_column_8_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_4 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bujones-RR-blog-450.jpg\" title=\"Bujones-RR-blog-450\" width=\"450\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Bujones-RR-blog-450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" class=\"wp-image-223440\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_10 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module preset--group--divi-text--divi-font-body--h1yjkjr--b9wnw77ukg\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Terry Orr, Fernando Bujones, Marianna Tcherkassky rehearsal <em>Grand Pas Romantique\u00a0<\/em>Photograph by Rachelle Rogers<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_5 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Marianna-and-Danilo-RR-blog-450.jpg\" title=\"Marianna-and-Danilo-RR-blog-450\" width=\"450\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Marianna-and-Danilo-RR-blog-450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" class=\"wp-image-223441\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_11 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Marianna Tcherkassky and Danilo Radojevic rehearsal <em>Grand Pas Romantique\u00a0<\/em>Photograph by Rachelle Rogers<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_18 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_16_24 et_flex_column_16_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_12 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>I entered the then Miami Beach Theater of the Performing Arts, showed my pass, and proceeded to the auditorium. I set up my tripod in the aisle to the right of center stage, at about the tenth row, and attached my camera and lens. I had to stay close, since my equipment was limited to what I could afford, which meant limited long range lens capacity. The rehearsal for <em>Raymonda<\/em> was already in progress. Mikhail Baryshnikov, not dancing that year, was Artistic Director of ABT at the time. He and two other assistants viewed the dancers from chairs at the front of the stage. The conditions were less than perfect. The rehearsal was more of a run through and final tweaking than an all-out performance, and was done with minimal lighting, which made my photos come out pretty bad.<\/p>\n<p><em>Grand Pas Romantique<\/em>\u00a0was choreographed for Marianna Tcherkassky (who Bujones adored) and Danilo Redojevic in the lead roles. It was scheduled for a full dress rehearsal. As the dancers took their places, I noticed that Mikhail Baryshnikov had stayed and taken a seat at the opposite end of the row where I was set up. Without saying anything to Bujones, Misha sat down to watch. It was no secret that they had had a long time friction between them.<\/p>\n<p>The music by\u00a0Adolphe Adam (from the ballet\u00a0<em>Le Diable a<\/em>\u00a0<em>Quatre<\/em>)<em>\u00a0<\/em>began, but was soon stopped. The auditorium was unusually cold that day, and the dancers were apparently feeling it. They slipped into protective warmers\u2014deep gold tutus now marred by bulgy pink leg warmers from mid-thigh to ankle; regal white tights covered with black warmers, the waist rolled over and bunched up below the navel. Afterwards, they began again. At the end of the first movement, Fernando Bujones trotted down the aisle, his red robe falling open, and rushed on stage to give direction to Marianna.<\/p>\n<p>Soon after, the rehearsal continued through. I was not impressed with\u00a0<em>Grand Pas Romantique.\u00a0<\/em>Luckily, I was not\u00a0there to review it. And being\u00a0totally unfamiliar with the\u00a0choreography made it difficult to know when the best shots would be coming up, which left my photos with much to be desired.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_12 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_19 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_6 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10320_Max_Waldman-750x642-1.jpg\" title=\"10320_Max_Waldman 750x642\" width=\"750\" height=\"642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10320_Max_Waldman-750x642-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10320_Max_Waldman-750x642-1-480x411.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 750px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223444\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_13 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Gelsey Kirkland and Ivan Nagy in <em>Romeo and Juliet\u00a0 <\/em>Photograph by Max Walman<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_20 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_7 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3c8feba54beed61cb35f3576b464655e-750x642-1.jpg\" title=\"3c8feba54beed61cb35f3576b464655e 750x642\" width=\"750\" height=\"642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3c8feba54beed61cb35f3576b464655e-750x642-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3c8feba54beed61cb35f3576b464655e-750x642-1-480x411.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 750px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223443\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_14 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov rehearsal\u00a0 Photograph by Max Waldman<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_13 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_21 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_15 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Although this photographic venture presented many frustrations, it was still an exceptional experience, and one that gave me an even deeper appreciation for a thing of great beauty\u2014the technical genius and grand artistry of Max Waldman.<\/p>\n<p>Tonight I pull my musty copy of\u00a0<em>Waldman On Dance<\/em>\u00a0from the shelf, flip through its thirty-six year old well-fingered pages. I re-read the beautiful introduction written by Clive Barnes, beloved dance critic for The New York Times:\u00a0<em>The pictures that follow need no words, They are a constant evocation of the harmonic elements of dance, and a constant reminder of what dance is all about\u2014the fleeting images of remembered passion.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_14 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_22 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_8 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Peter-and-Suzanne-RR-blog-copy-1000-web.jpg\" title=\"Peter-and-Suzanne-RR-blog copy 1000 web\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Peter-and-Suzanne-RR-blog-copy-1000-web.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Peter-and-Suzanne-RR-blog-copy-1000-web-980x654.jpg 980w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Peter-and-Suzanne-RR-blog-copy-1000-web-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1000px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-223447\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_16 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins in <em>Afternoon of a Faun\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Photograph by Max Waldman<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_15 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_23 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_post_nav_0 et_pb_posts_nav nav-single et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/the-poet-in-me\/\" rel=\"prev\" class=\"\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">&larr; <\/span><span class=\"nav-label\">The Poet In me<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"nav-next\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/a-writerfriend-a-memory-and-harry\/\" rel=\"next\" class=\"\"><span class=\"nav-label\">A WriterFriend, A Memory, and Harry<\/span><span class=\"meta-nav\"> &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_16 et_pb_row et_block_row et_animated\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_24 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_signup_0 et_pb_signup et_pb_newsletter et_pb_subscribe et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_description\"><h2 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">KEEP UP WITH MY POSTS<\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_description_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span>Subscribers receive a free PDF of my published memoir <\/span><em><span><br \/><\/span><\/em><span><\/span><span style=\"color: #57006d;\"><em>Rare Atmosphere: An Extraordinary Inter-dimensional Affair of the Heart<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_form\"><form method=\"post\" class=\"\"><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_result et_pb_newsletter_error\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_result et_pb_newsletter_success\"><h2>Thank you for subscribing. Your gift is on the way.<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_fields et_flex_module\" style=\"--flex-direction: row;\"><p class=\"et_pb_newsletter_field et_pb_contact_field_half et_pb_contact_field_half_tablet et_pb_contact_field_half_phone\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_signup_firstname\" style=\"display: none;\">Name<\/label><input class=\"input\" id=\"et_pb_signup_firstname\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Name\" name=\"et_pb_signup_firstname\" \/><\/p><p class=\"et_pb_newsletter_field et_pb_contact_field_half et_pb_contact_field_half_tablet et_pb_contact_field_half_phone\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_signup_email\" style=\"display: none;\">Email<\/label><input class=\"input\" id=\"et_pb_signup_email\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Email\" name=\"et_pb_signup_email\" \/><\/p><p class=\"et_pb_newsletter_button_wrap\"><a class=\"et_pb_button et_pb_newsletter_button\" href=\"#\" data-icon=\"E\"><span class=\"et_subscribe_loader\"><\/span><span class=\"et_pb_newsletter_button_text\">SUBSCRIBE<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_provider\" value=\"mailerlite\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_list_id\" value=\"\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_account_name\" value=\"123665865706047230\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_ip_address\" value=\"true\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_checksum\" value=\"5d7bf22ebbb5b2bf167c9b34155f9cf6\" \/><\/form><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_3 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_17 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_25 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_comments_0 et_pb_comments_module et_pb_no_comments_count et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\" data-icon=\"E\" data-icon-tablet=\"\" data-icon-phone=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve been reading a lot lately, mostly audiobooks. Wanting to stretch the four credits left on my Audible account that have to last me until renewing in November, I often borrow from the Front Range Digital Library\u2026 One of the audiobooks that popped up on my library search was a memoir that unexpectedly rekindled thoughts of my love of the performing arts. The book is The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":223432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[148,150,61,225,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-223427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-audiobooks","category-books","category-dance","category-max-waldman","category-photography"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223427"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223535,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223427\/revisions\/223535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}