Degas wishes everyone a happy Labor Day, and speaking of labor, did all of you catch the outrageous New York Times article today about our tiny dancers making not so tiny payments to enter dance competitions!  I have questioned the virtue of dance competitions in my discussion of the documentary First Position which at least ended with participants going to well known schools and companies to further a chance at a dance career.  What do 12 year olds get out of a rendition of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", a Beyonce inspired performance that apparently took place at a California DANCE competition in 2010.  Mr. Sharenow of Lifetime brushes a broad stroke when he paints critics of these events as "classist"!  Really!  Lets just agree to take out the dance in dance competitions.  Calling all dance lovers, please put your foot down and stop this pollution of a wonderful art form.

By the way, Degas is busy painting and preparing for a show this coming weekend, September 8 and 9 in Greenwich Village, NYC.  (12-6).  A bientot!