| Black dancers ready to stretch in ballet
One of the stories that took front and center at last weekend's Super Bowl was that of the Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith and Indianapolis Colts' Tony Dungy marking the first time two black head coaches had taken their respective teams to that event. When I was a kid, you could have counted the number of black quarterbacks on the fingers of a single hand, and it wouldn't have taken that many fingers, but times change. Now it's not a marvel that there are dozens. As we celebrate Black History Month, I think about the parallels, inexact as they might be, to the dance world. These days, there are plenty of black choreographers and black dancers of note, but even now, why does it still take only one hand to count the number of black principal dancers in the major ballet companies? Are black dancers not as interested in classical ballet? Do ballet companies have trouble envisioning an African-American star? Where are all those black quarterbacks of ballet? Of course, these are complicated questions in some ways, and in others revealing ones, and I'll say right up front that I haven't got any answers.
MARY ELLEN HUNT: FOOT NOTES: Black dancers ready to stretch in ballet
One of the stories that took front and center at last weekend's Super Bowl was that of the Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith and Indianapolis Colts' Tony Dungy marking the first time two black head coaches had taken their respective teams to that event. When I was a kid, you could have counted the number of black quarterbacks on the fingers of a single hand, and it wouldn't have taken that many fingers, but times change. Now it's not a marvel that there are dozens. As we celebrate Black History Month, I think about the parallels, inexact as they might be, to the dance world. These days, there are plenty of black choreographers and black dancers of note, but even now, why does it still take only one hand to count the number of black principal dancers in the major ballet companies? Are black dancers not as interested in classical ballet? Do ballet companies have trouble envisioning an African-American star? Where are all those black quarterbacks of ballet? Of course, these are complicated questions in some ways, and in others revealing ones, and I'll say right up front that I haven't got any answers.
Ballet's loss is gymnastics' gainGymnast Jill Kowalski isn't ...
Kent, OH (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Had a class of ballet been more exciting, the Kent State gymnastics team may be without the services of Jill Kowalski today. Ballet was "too boring" for the five-year-old Kowalski, so after one unbearably dull session, her mother put her into a gymnastics class, and the rest, as they say, is history. Kowalski, a junior tri-captain for the Flashes, has become a full-fledged star. On Monday, she was named Mid-American Conference Co-Gymnast of the week for her performance in Sunday's meet at Bowling Green. Two weeks before that, she won the award outright after a strong performance in a five-team meet at West Virginia. "It's an honor and really special to be recognized like that," Kowalski said. "But it really helps to have a team behind me that pushes me, helping me to be successful." Kowalski, who was named to the All-MAC First Team for gymnastics as a sophomore, had success before coming to Kent State as a member of Midwest Gymnastics.
Ballet's loss is gymnastics' gain
Had a class of ballet been more exciting, the Kent State gymnastics team may be without the services of Jill Kowalski today.
Ballet was "too boring" for the five-year-old Kowalski, so after one unbearably dull session, her mother put her into a gymnastics class, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Kowalski, a junior tri-captain for the Flashes, has become a full-fledged star. On Monday, she was named Mid-American Conference Co-Gymnast of the week for her performance in Sunday's meet at Bowling Green. Two weeks before that, she won the award outright after a strong performance in a five-team meet at West Virginia.
"It's an honor and really special to be recognized like that," Kowalski said. "But it really helps to have a team behind me that pushes me, helping me to be successful."
Kowalski, who was named to the All-MAC First Team for gymnastics as a sophomore, had success before coming to Kent State as a member of Midwest Gymnastics.
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