From the Chiff & Fipple FAQ, ci. 1998 or 1999: Q: Right. Right. Well, let’s move on. What other projects are you working on?
Dale: Oh, lots of things. I’m putting the final touches on a grand ballet I’ve conceived and choreographed about NASCAR. My new musical about Jerry Springer (“Springer!”) is previewing in Atlanta and, in what I regard as really imaginative casting, will star Meryl Streep as Jerry Springer.
As you might guess, I made these up, in addition to a few other projects in a similarly surreal vein. You have already marvelled that there has been an opera about Jerry Springer written and performed. That’s pretty darn close to a musical.
“NASCAR Ballet is the next installment of Roanoke Ballet Theatre’s desire to create an appreciation for dance through popular culture. NASCAR Ballet centers around 20 ballet and modern dancers (who represent cars) who circle a forty foot horseshoe track that banks around the corner complete with break away railings. Three huge monitors are suspended about the dancers heads. One of which serve as the “TV” as the local Channel 7 sportscaster, Mike Stevens, calls the race live and it is projected onto the monitor. Mike will be joined by NASCAR drivers, who he interviews during the production. Another monitor, relays live footage of the “pit” as dancers lift, rotate and spin one another during the “pit stop”. The third screen continuously plays pre-made commercials by sponsoring companies. As the dancers gracefully careen around the track, collide and are rebuilt, logos of sponsoring companies are displayed prominently all over their bodies.”
O Praise the Undisputed for His Prophetic Powers and for the Abilities of Others to Steal the Ideas of the Undisputed From His Head.
“NASCAR Ballet is the next installment of Roanoke Ballet Theatre’s desire to create an appreciation for dance through popular culture. NASCAR Ballet centers around 20 ballet and modern dancers (who represent cars) who circle a forty foot horseshoe track that banks around the corner complete with break away railings. Three huge monitors are suspended about the dancers heads. One of which serve as the “TV” as the local Channel 7 sportscaster, Mike Stevens, calls the race live and it is projected onto the monitor. Mike will be joined by NASCAR drivers, who he interviews during the production. Another monitor, relays live footage of the “pit” as dancers lift, rotate and spin one another during the “pit stop”. The third screen continuously plays pre-made commercials by sponsoring companies. As the dancers gracefully careen around the track, collide and are rebuilt, logos of sponsoring companies are displayed prominently all over their bodies.”
So THERE!! Now ya’ll can’t say we here in southwest ver-gin-yuh ain’t got no class er suh-fis-tuh-kay-shun!!!
Now I just wonder how many “good ole boys” went to that little shindig?
:roll: It’s like… shock ballet. Were they just bored or what? Good call, Dale. Bloody amazing, in fact. Now tell what is coming next O-Undisputed One? After all we need to be prepared, right?
It was either remarkable prognostication by Dale or, of course, arrant plagiarism by the Roanake people, as the idea appeared earlier in writing. Hmmm…Should be --dare I risk a sports metaphor?–a slam dunk. Time to get lawyered up! I feel a lawsuit coming on…
Hi, 'piper… we’re a few counties southwest of you, down in Yancey County – Burnsville, to be exact. . . occasionally friends in Asheville ask me, “So…what’s going on in Burnsville these days?” To which I consistently reply, “Absolutely nothing.” Which is just how I like it.
Hello everyone. I’m not sure that any type of dancing that doesn’t involve a brass pole or a “Boot Scoot’in Boogie” line dance will be very popular with the racing community!
Were they just bored or what? Good call, Dale. Bloody amazing, in fact. 