Wrapping Up H.P.

I just submitted the paper I presented on H.P. at the Society for Dance History Scholars for inclusion in the conference proceedings. Although the essay contains only a fraction of the research I gathered on this rich subject, I was happy after all these years to complete it. I thought I would be leaving H.P. behind, but there has been talk about revisiting this intriguing ballet--whether through a brochure or an actual revival or some other way--by folks in the U.S. and Mexico who could actually make it happen. Stay tuned!

One Down, Two to Go

I gave the first of my two lectures at the Philadelphia Museum of Art about H.P. It went very well. The audience appreciated learning about this interesting episode in Philadelphia history. No one had heard of Catherine Littlefield before the lecture, however, which came as a surprise to me. I have a lot of work to do! I give the same talk again at PMA on March 29, and then a new version of the lecture in June at the Society of Dance History Scholars conference in Saratoga, NY.

Better Blog to Recommend

My husband, David Skeel, and his friend, Bill Stuntz, are both thoughtful law professors and evangelical Christians. They have started a blog together called Less than the Least. They will discuss current events, theological, cultural and political, as well as personal struggles. Bill, for example, suffers from chronic back/leg pain and was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. I highly recommend this blog (www.law.upenn.edu/blogs/dskeel)

As for my own work, it is going well. I meet with the folks at the Philadelphia Museum tomorrow to construct the PowerPoint presentation for my lecture. After that, it's just a matter of practicing. Today it will be warm, so I hope to build in some time to go outside for a run!

Link to Lecture

You can find details about my lecture at www.philamuseum.org. Go to education, adult programs, then art history lectures. I just learned that my abstract about H.P. was accepted to the Society for Dance History Scholars annual conference in Saratoga this June.

Revised Dates for Kahlo Lecture

The dates for my lectures at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are Thursday, March 20, and Saturday, March 29. It will be the same lecture given twice as part of an art-history course on Mexican Modernism. The course comprises four different lectures, with four different lecturers. Descriptions of it and all the other activities associated with the Frida Kahlo exhibition can be found on the museum's website, as well as in brochures recently mailed to members.

I'm excitied to finally share my research about H.P., especially in a lecture format, since it provides an opportunity to incorporate images as well as music. We'll be able to recreate the performance as much as we can, without the actual dancers!

PMA Lecture Dates

The dates for the lectures about H.P. at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are Thursday, March 13 and Saturday, March 15. The talk will run about 55 minutes and I will show a great number of images.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Lecture

I will be giving two lectures (same lecture twice) at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in March in connection with the Frida Kahlo exhibition. I will be discussing the ballet H.P. as part of a PMA art history course on Mexican Modernism.