January 21, 2003

• Diablo Ballet

  
  

  Thanks to Meghan for the following:

  
  

  not going, not coming,
  rooted, deep and still
  not reaching out, not reaching in
  just resting, at the center
  a single jewel, the flawless crystal drop
  in the blaze of its brilliance
  the way beyond.

  
  

  — Shih Te (c. 730)

  
  

  It turns out that Shih Te (“Foundling”) was the sidekick of Han Shan (“Cold Mountain”).  Here are some relevant links:

  
  

  
  
  • Literary Kicks: Han Shan
    
  • The Story of Han Shan and Shih Te
    
  • Han Shan and Shih Te, the Mad Monks

  
  

  Thoughts of Robert Frost (see past two days’ entries) lead to “Two Tramps in Mud Time,” which in turn leads to Jack Kerouac and Gary Snyder splitting wood in The Dharma Bums.

  
  

  This in turn leads, via a search on “Kerouac” and “axe,” to the sentence

  
  

  
  

  “There’s the grace of an axe handle 
   as good as an Eglevsky ballet,”

  
  

  in Big Sur. 

  
  

  Kerouac taught me when I was 16 and he is still teaching me now that I am 60.

  
  

  Searching for “Eglevsky ballet” leads to this site on André Eglevsky, his work, his life, and his children.  A further search leads to his daughter Marina Eglevsky, who stages dance for the Diablo Ballet.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Born to Dance Marina Eglevsky and the Diablo Ballet — a rare and gifted pas de deux

  
  

  Those who feel the above is too “arty” for them may nevertheless appreciate the movie by the same name: “Born to Dance” (1936), starring Eleanor Powell and James Stewart.

  
  

  In the larger metaphorical sense, of course, Powell and Eglevsky are both part of the same dance… at the “still point” described so well by Shih Te. 

  
  

  “just resting, at the center
  a single jewel…”

  
  
  
  
  
  

  “At the still point, there the dance is.” — T. S. Eliot

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  From Marshall’s Jewelers, Tucson — A Diamond-Cutter Sutra: The ideal cut is a mathematical formula for cutting diamonds to precise angles and proportions to maximize the reflection and refraction of light. In addition to these ideal proportions, the polish and symmetry of the diamond is done to the highest standards also. Only then does it qualify to receive the American Gem Society (AGS) “triple zero” rating. A “zero” rating is the most perfect rating that the AGS gives evaluating the cut, polish, and symmetry of the diamond. When a diamond receives the “zero” rating for each of these areas, (cut, polish, and symmetry), it gets three “zeros,” hence the “triple zero” rating. Because of this attention to detail, it takes up to four times longer to cut a diamond to these standards than an “average” diamond. You may choose to compromise on color or clarity but to ensure the most brilliant diamond you should not compromise on cut…. The “triple zero” ideal cut guarantees you a magnificent balance of brilliance, sparkle, and fire.

  
  

  Postscript of 1/25/03:

  
  

  See also the obituary of Irene Diamond, ballet patron, for whom the New York City Ballet’s “Diamond Project” is named.  Diamond died on January 21, 2003, the date of the above weblog entry.
  
  

  • 5:09 pm
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