Sexy Rexy

Dear Madonna,

You'll never guess what I did this week.

My friend, Shelley, and I went to see the Nutcracker ballet on Thursday night. It was a beautiful production featuring lavish costumes, eye-popping sets, and stunning performances by the principal dancers (as well as endearing appearances by National Ballet students).

During the intermission I spotted Rex Harrington, formal principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, now its Artistic Director, and most recently a guest judge on the Canadian version of the television show "So You Think You Can Dance." I not only spotted him, I accosted him, introducing myself, foisting my card on him, and 'pitching' him on my fund-raising idea for next year's CAMH Benefit.

For the past two years I've raised money for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health as a kind of memorial to my brother, Michael. I've got a great idea for next year's Benefit and it would be way cool if I could get "Sexy Rexy", as he calls himself, to take part. He's already a spokesperson for CAMH's Transforming Lives advertising campaign which features high-profile celebrities sharing personal stories in an attempt to de-stigmatize mental health and addiction issues. I asked him how I could keep in touch with him and - would you believe? - he gave me his email address!

After the ballet Shelley and I went across the street to the bar in the Hilton Hotel, but that's another story :)

Ciao,
Julie

Thanks for the email

Dear Madonna,

It was great to open my inbox this week to see an email from you. And although the schedule change to your Buenos Aires concert dates doesn't really affect me, it's an interesting coincidence as my friend Beverley just got back from BA and sent me a lovely long email about her stay there. Another coincidence - Beverley and her husband, David lived in England for six years in a village not far from your estate. Oh - but are you moving back to the U.S. after the tour/divorce?

Beverley is a Tango afficionado and studies -very seriously - with an instructor in BA. I, on the other hand, am "Tango Girl, interrupted", having taken classes at Rhythm and Motion Studio for just over six months, then stopping and re-starting just last month. Thankfully one of the guys who comes to my weekly West Coast Swing practices drags me around for a Tango or two on Tuesday nights. It's really an exercise in submission, though, compared to West Coast.

Beverley insists that the "macho" reputation of the men in BA is overplayed, though she paints a picture of the Milongas where 60-year-old-men will only dance with 30-year-old women, and only when they - the men - ask (demand?) Where are these men's wives? Why does the culture prohibit a woman from asking a man to dance?

Busy week ahead and Christmas just around the corner....

Ciao,
Julie