When Lee Wilson first began dancing, she wore tap shoes and took lessons in her neighbor's basement. "I loved the scraping sound of taps brushing across the cement floor, the clicking sounds of the heel taps, and the crash of a full-footed stomp," Lee recalls in Rebel on Pointe, her memoir that we published this past … Continue reading 7 Reasons Why Ballet Dancers Choose Broadway
Crime at Kew: Rare Water Lily Stolen from Gardens
Craig Pittman is an award-winning journalist who writes about environmental issues for Florida's largest newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times. He is the author of Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World's Most Beautiful Orchid, making him the perfect person to weigh in on the latest botanical scandal, this time across the pond: the theft of an extremely rare water … Continue reading Crime at Kew: Rare Water Lily Stolen from Gardens
American Horror Story: Coven Season Finale Fact v. Fiction
With an over-the-top season finale that drew 4.2 million viewers, American Horror Story: Coven left many fans disappointed. Carolyn Long considers the elements that stayed (at least a little bit) true to history and points out several of the bigger divergences. "These were great characters in a great setting—if only we’d gotten to know them better," commented The … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Season Finale Fact v. Fiction
American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #4
Who will be the next Supreme? Tonight's season finale of American Horror Story: Coven is guaranteed to be action packed and full of surprises. Carolyn Long offers up another fascinating primer on the crossover and parallels between history and the gore-filled, betrayal-fueled world inhabited by the characters of Coven, this time focusing on episodes 10 and 11. The show took … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #4
American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #3
Only two days left until the season finale of American Horror Story: Coven! Recapping episodes 6-9 with a look at where history influenced the plot of Coven, Carolyn Long gives fans a lot to think about. As far-fetched and fantastical as much of Coven may seem, it's easy to forget that true events in the … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #3
American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #2
Only 6 more days until the season finale of American Horror Story: Coven and Carolyn Long is back to tide you over with a look at where history parallels or completely contradicts the storyline! If you're just getting started, see the first post in our Coven series to get an overview of the cast and … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fact v. Fiction #2
American Horror Story: Coven Fantasy v. Fact Episode #1
Fans of FX’s incredibly popular American Horror Story: Coven recognize Madame Lalaurie and Marie Laveau as characters played by Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett in a mesmerizing world of intrigue, witchcraft, and gore set in New Orleans. Carolyn Long, the author of biographies on both of these fascinating women - Lalaurie and Laveau - undoubtedly … Continue reading American Horror Story: Coven Fantasy v. Fact Episode #1
Remembering the Father of Cuban Ballet, Fernando Alonso (1914 – 2013)
After the recent death of Fernando Alonso (1914-2013), "a Cuban ballet master and teacher who teamed with his brother and his wife at the time, the ballet star Alicia Alonso, to found a dance company that gained international renown as the Ballet Nacional de Cuba," author Toba Singer fondly remembers the time she spent working with him … Continue reading Remembering the Father of Cuban Ballet, Fernando Alonso (1914 – 2013)
Chile’s First Female President up for Re-Election: Gregory Weeks & Silvia Borzutzky Guest Post
Bringing Back Bachelet by Gregory Weeks and Silvia Borzutzky It appears increasingly likely that Michelle Bachelet will be elected as president of Chile, a position she held from 2006-2010. Here, the co-authors of The Bachelet Government: Conflict and Consensus in Post-Pinochet Chile provide useful insights into the immediate and often overlooked political challenges that Bachelet will face. Gregory … Continue reading Chile’s First Female President up for Re-Election: Gregory Weeks & Silvia Borzutzky Guest Post
Mermaid Tales: Bonnie Georgiadis (Ex-Mermaid) Guest Post
Born to Be a Mermaid by Bonnie Georgiadis Inspired by mythical sirens, the beloved Ariel, and a yearning for the magical, mermaiding has become an occupation as well as a hobby. Those who have taken to the idea of becoming "real-life mermaids" are getting a lot of press. Linden Wolbert, profiled by the Daily Mail, dons … Continue reading Mermaid Tales: Bonnie Georgiadis (Ex-Mermaid) Guest Post
The Florida Bookshelf 