Middle school student Sarah Hansen has a progressive disorder that had left her unable to take more than one or two steps without holding on to something or falling. Then she found Bonnie Schlachte’s studio, Ballet for All Kids. Schlachte usually teaches developmentally disabled kids, but she knew that, thanks to neuroplasticity, she could help Hansen. (includes video)
Author: Matthew Westphal
Israel Can Do Archaeological Work In West Bank In Secret, Court Rules
Israel already does West Bank excavations, and lends artifacts found in them, without approval from Palestinian authorities. The new ruling permits digs done anonymously and lending artefacts without informing the Palestinians at all.
How Do You Remain Civil In An Uncivil World?
“For better or worse, we must accept that civility ‘does not exist outside of politics as an independent force,’ … but rather is just as much the ‘subject of political struggle’ as everything else.”
People Are Extremely Loyal To Groups That Haze Newcomers – Why?
“Why do unpleasant hazing practices manage to remain so appealing that individuals are willing to risk legal punishment, injury and even death to keep the practices alive?” Anthropologist Christopher Kavanagh looks to the phenomena of cognitive dissonance, social glue and “costly signals” for explanations.
Testing The Detroit Institute Of Arts’ New Augmented Reality App
“At a media preview on January 9,” writes Sarah Rose Sharp, “the Detroit Institute of Arts introduced Lumin, a new interpretive guide developed in partnership with Google and an augmented reality (AR) platform creator called GuidiGO. Subsequently, a tempest of conflicting emotions was triggered in the soul of this arts writer.”
Portland’s Disjecta Contemporary Art Center Fires Its Founder, And The Recriminations Fly
“On New Year’s Eve, the organization’s founder and executive director, Bryan Suereth, was officially dismissed by Disjecta’s board of directors, following disputes over his leadership and an eleventh-hour attempt by supporters to keep him at the helm.” Said disputes over Suereth’s leadership are by no means over, though even he and his supporters acknowledge that he can be confrontational.
William Peter Blatty, Author Of ‘The Exorcist’, Dead At 89
He sold vacuum cleaners, drove a beer truck, joined the Air Force and USIA, and spent the ’60s writing comic novels and screenplays in L.A. before creating the book and film that changed the horror genre and conquered pop culture.
Peter Gelb Cancels One Of Met Opera’s New Productions For Next Season
The company’s general manager says that “postponing” the new Verdi Forza del destino staging, a co-production with English National Opera, by Calixto Bieito will save the financially troubled Met $1 million. (Gelb didn’t mention that Bieito is probably the most controversial, not to say notorious, of the directors with new productions planned for 2016-17.)
‘Fun Home’ Book/Lyrics Writer Lisa Kron Wins $100,000 Kleban Prize
Kron, who took home two Tony Awards for Fun Home, received the 2017 Kleban for “most promising musical theater librettist”; the prize for “most promising musical theater lyricist” went to 36-year-old Daniel Zaitchik (Picnic at Hanging Rock).
National Book Critics Circle Finalists Announced, And There’s One Huge Snub
Zadie Smith, Michael Chabon, Louise Erdrich, Ann Patchett, Jane Mayer, Robert Pinsky, Marion Coutts, and Peter Orner are there; Margaret Atwood’s getting a lifetime achievement award – but conspicuously missing is one of 2016’s biggest successes, a National Book Award winner and Oprah pick.