Top 20 Magic Dance Movie Moments from 1940s Gene Kelly, Danny Kayes Hollywood To Joaquin Phoenix 2019

Dance As An Art Form Creative Expression In The Movies Continues To Tell Stories

Fiona Moss

2026-03-31T13:18:00.0000000 2026-03-31T15:13:33.1430000

From the earliest days of cinema to modern blockbusters, dance has always been one of film’s most powerful and expressive storytelling tools. Someone asked me recently which movies have the best dance scenes, and it set me off thinking about all the films I’ve loved—often because of the dancing first and foremost.

Looking back, the golden age of musicals gave us some of the most enduring dance moments ever put on screen. Singin' in the Rain remains the ultimate example, with Gene Kelly demonstrating effortless charm and technical brilliance in a way that still feels fresh today. Around the same era, On the Town showcased the elegance of Vera-Ellen, while White Christmas delivered the beautifully romantic “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing.”

The 1960s continued this tradition with Mary Poppins, where Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews brought joy, precision, and theatricality to unforgettable routines.

By the late 1970s and into the 1980s, dance films began to shift in tone—becoming more contemporary, aspirational, and, for many of us, deeply relatable. Saturday Night Fever staring John Travolta captured the worlds imagination of the nightclub and disco late night culture. Grease followed gaving us the electrifying finale “You’re the One That I Want,” with Olivia Newton-John and again John Travolta cementing their place in pop culture. Films like Fame and Flashdance captured the ambition, struggle, and sheer determination of young dancers in a way that truly resonated with me as a young dancer myself, even watching decades later.

The mid-1980s offered even more unforgettable moments. White Nights paired ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov with tap icon Gregory Hines in a powerful and technically stunning sequence. Around the same time, 9½ Weeks delivered one of cinema’s most sensual dance scenes, with Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke creating a moment that still lingers in popular memory.

No conversation about iconic dance scenes would be complete without Dirty Dancing. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey delivered one of the most recognisable finales in film history—defining a generation and continuing to inspire audiences decades later.

Moving into the 1990s, Stepping Out, starring Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters, offered a lighter, uplifting take on dance, full of heart and humour.

The early 2000s brought a renewed appreciation for dance on screen. Billy Elliot, with Jamie Bell alongside Julie Walters and dancer Adam Cooper, remains an emotional and inspiring standout. Meanwhile, Moulin Rouge! dazzled audiences with its bold, theatrical “Roxanne Tango,” and Chicago delivered sharp, stylised choreography in the unforgettable “Cell Block Tango.”

Dance continued to evolve in mainstream cinema through franchises like Step Up and the Magic Mike series, which firmly established Channing Tatum as one of Hollywood’s leading modern dance talents.

In a darker and more psychological vein, Black Swan showcased the intensity and discipline of the dance world, with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis undergoing extraordinary training to bring their roles to life.

More recently, Magic Mike's Last Dance featured a captivating and intimate duet between Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek—a scene that stands out as one of the most memorable modern dance moments in film.

And finally, my personal favourite: Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. His staircase dance as Arthur Fleck is both haunting and mesmerising—an extraordinary blend of physical precision and emotional depth that perfectly captures the character’s complexity.

From classic Hollywood to contemporary cinema, dance continues to captivate, inspire, and tell stories in ways that words alone simply cannot.

Since writing this I had to add, Al Pacino in Scent Of A Woman and the fantastic Kate Hudson number in None about Italian Film director Guido played by Daniel Day Lewis. There are a few noteworthy dance numbers in this film Dame Judi Dench and Fergie perform memorable dance numbers, too. The Aloof in Sweet Charity is a 2 minute Bob Fosse masterclass in choreography on film. Style dance story telling personified. The list goes on.

I Told My Friend I’d Never Been To Sephora and She Said “We’re Going Immediately”

A Make Up and Beauty “Paradise” That Could Become Addictive For Sure

Fiona Moss

2025-11-16T10:07:00.0000000 2025-11-16T12:06:24.6070000

Some people live for a trip to the beauty supply store. We’ve all got a friend who’s an expert, always into the latest release, make up breakthrough, whether it’s contouring to a defined brow or metallic lip.

I am in the studio every day so doing well if I dust my face with a little bronzer and slap on some lip gloss so probably one of the few 20 somethings who’ve never shopped at Sephora before.

The first thing to note is it’s not like the make up and beauty departments you find in stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom where I have purchased gifts and make up products before.

It’s like a packed to the gills with 21st century brands store, floor to ceiling merchandising, bright modern displays with brands and marketing blurb I wasn’t familiar with. 

My friend knew her way around and thank goodness, because I wouldn’t have had a clue. I was interested in trying a new foundation and would have bought some skin care too except I didn’t know where to begin and my friend was busy finding the things she already had researched and wanted to look at, three brands I’d never even heard of, Oui The People, By Mario foundation which is great for black or darker skin I am assured, and Isle of Paradise Bronzer. All things, I have it on good authority she loves, especially the Oui the People Serum which is great for dealing with dry or patchy problem areas or dark spots, it contains hyaluronic acid accredited with skin renewal, my friend assures me I’ll love it so I am going to buy this product at around $50 bucks when I get my next paycheck.

This is my problem when it comes to shopping beauty, I need help. I am not knowledgeable and I thought going to a store like Sephora I find the help I needed. We were greeted by a security person who couldn’t leave her station by the door when we asked for assistance. The store was busy and like I said there’s so much to choose from so proved challenging for me as a first timer.

The assistant I got assigned was not great. She wasn’t engaged to start with, rushing around, she kept telling me she’d be right back, but when she came back seemed to have as much information and experience as me, zero. I ended up telling her not to worry, I’d look around myself.

My friend spent around $170 on the items she picked out. I ended up spending nothing. I was overwhelmed and needed a retail assistant to help me, unfortunately on this particular day that wasn’t happening.

My recommendation if you are visiting Sephora for the first time, do your research ahead of time and plan your budget, three or four items can cost upwards of $150.

The best thing about the store is it’s curated with loads of things you’ve never seen or heard of, like Oui the People range, all natural and cruelty free, a bit like shopping duty free in a foreign country where everything is fresh and exciting. And it is divided into sections, skincare, makeup, fragrance although we did struggle to find the self tan which wasn’t all together and seemed quite a limited selection, maybe that’s just in Southern California though where the sun shines.

The store is modern and young, great art work on the walls (definitely good selection for black and brown girls) but extremely busy and we had to queue to pay, only one checkout open which was a bit of a drag.

First 100 Days In Office by Chris Murphy

Democratic Senator For Connecticut break down

Fiona Moss

2025-05-03T09:54:00.0000000 2025-05-03T16:29:11.7830000

Image credit Beaus all natural brewing company, Canada. This photo went viral again in 2020 “Trump Sandwich” . The image of the famous sandwich goes back to 2016 when the Canadian business clearly saw something coming.

This snoop is a follow up after my last musing about the president and the administration immediately after the inauguration.

When President Trump was elected to lead the US a lot of people were dismayed not by his victory, we are a democracy with democratic elections, but at having a popularist leader and the fear of what happens when democracy is slowly eroded. Beaus brewing company Canada weren’t the only ones expressing concern back in 2016. They just managed to present their point of view in a way lots of other people connected with.

I am more in tune with Governor Gavin Newsom who I believe has done a good job alongside his wife Jennifer Lynn Siebel Newsom for California and from what I have seen he has led with fairness, strength and openness. Three qualities I admire. President Trump has also led with strength and openness, I am just not sure where the equity and fairness sits right now.

I recommend everyone watch the film or read the Senator Chris Murphy transcript with an open mind. I am not going to comment on the long list of unorthodox presidential decisions and unprecedented presidential behaviour Senator Chris Murphy has laid out. I am not a lawmaker and have zero experience in how government operates. There are always two sides to every story and I don’t always agree with doing things the way they have always been done.

That said I am interested in the Cryto currency coin Mr. Trump has created with suggestion it’s a clever way to receive untraceable untrackable funds from who knows where or who.

The £40 Million from Amazon for a Melania documentary paid directly sounds like a great gig if you can get it. When is it coming out? Did Melania agree? Is this what the current Amazon Administration feud is really about?

A friend of mine, and a republican recently told me every single Trump business has ended up in bankruptcy so despite his stint as head honcho on the TV show The Apprentice his business track record not so good.

She interestingly presented a theory to me how a megalomaniac with a very public, very poor, track record in business, and a massive perceived persona, might do literally anything to stop that being exposed so potentially the solution would be to create a massive smokescreen around the 36 trillion dollar black hole debt, project that on someone or something else, to justify unpalatable executive decisions, in the same way a magician gets us to focus our attention to over there, so we miss what’s going on over here. I’ve heard this kind of narrative again again, how Mr. Trump is a genius, I think he even called himself a genius and how as a master “chess player” a metaphor I imagine the world

must watch and wait. And gold plating the Oval Office all part of the strategy maybe?

The US has been running a deficit since the 1970’s meaning government borrowing and spending exceeded monies collected in revenue according to public fiscal data available on .gov website. So we’ve been over spending for quite some time. The only three years when we saw a budget surplus was from 1998 to 2001 and this was completely unexpected and attributed to better policy making in the 1990s plus a surge in the economy and much higher than expected revenues from taxes from a booming stock market and capital gains tax on the rich.

For me the peace promised hasn’t happened and the countless egregious acts now being reported daily, even on Fox News and placed in a timeline like this one, Trumps first 100 days in office” from courageous Chris Murphy make this administration impossible to believe or buy into for me.

World Earth Day Easter And Pope Francis

Synchronicity needed a mention

Fiona Moss

2025-04-23T10:28:00.0000000 2025-04-23T11:23:06.6400000

I am not religious. I was raised a Catholic but never really went to church and I couldn’t ever really buy into the dogma on the one hand and the behaviour and historic abuse in the church on the other. I follow my own religion where I focus on key qualities and characteristics like kindness, honesty, being hardworking to nurture a knowing from the inside instead of a blindly believing with no evidence from the outside.

People say all the time “things happen for a reason” this is something I not only say, I believe it more so than any religious faith so I was struck by the synchronicity or coincidence of the last three days. On the April 20th, 2025 the Christian church celebrated it’s most holy and significant day in the religious calendar, on the 21st April, 2025 the Pope, Pontif Francis dies and on the 22nd April, 2025 we celebrated World Earth Day.

I follow the dancer Katherine Barkman on Instagram @Katherine_barkman and back in July of 2020 I saved a post she shared from the Diocese of Tandag a Latin order of the Catholic Church based in the Philippines. It was a picture of Francis with his words beside it.

“Rivers do not drink their own water, trees do not eat their own fruit, the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is the rule of nature. We are all born to help each other no matter how difficult it is Life is good when you are happy but much better when others are happy because of you”

Pope Francis

I also wanted to add something a friend of mine said as we watched the news footage, stories and anecdotes from people he knew and people who had met him including the only remaining Catholic priest in Gaza city Father Gabriel Romanelli who said he spoke to the Pope for the last time on Saturday 19th April for a few moments.

I believe Pope Francis was a popular man who’s more humble no nonsense less traditional way of doing things wasn’t always embraced by the wider establishment of the Catholic Church, it’s true no one likes change.

Whether you are religious or not, I was struck by something a young person watching the news coverage with us said

“He is very fat, look at his big chin, he doesn’t look very healthy or divine.”

It made me think of the story of the Emperors New Clothes.

Like I said at the beginning of my musings I am not religious except I dance every day.

I did like it Pope Francis is to have only one wooden coffin and not three and he asked for a simple inscription his name only “Francisco”

Earth Day was established over 50 years ago after a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara California in 1969 ways before I was born. The idea was to engage more people in the importance of protecting the planet. gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes came up with Earth Day as a way to engage the public and push green issues to the national agenda.

MAC Cosmetics Lip Liners Discontinued

Bringing back Spice what about In Control

Fiona Moss

2025-04-06T07:54:00.0000000 2025-04-06T15:42:07.5630000

There are so many of us who have settled on the Mac Cosmetics lip liner. I hear you girlfriends it’s the best.

Now for the rant. The nudes and browns are second to none. We try them all Cork, Spice, Soar, In Control, Whirl and then we settle on our favourite, In my case In Control and then it’s discontinued. So I change, I get used to using something else every day. I swap my routine around. I have dark skin so the chocolates suit me. I don’t wear a ton of make up as I sweat it off in the studio in class so defining my lips every day is my thang.

The lip pencil costs $25 steep for neighbourhood you

all know what I’m sayin and lasts me about 6 months using every day and it stays on where lipstick and gloss work off when I’m moving.

Jan 2025 the bloggers and magazine editors went crazy to Mac announcing Mac Spice Lip Liner was back. I liked Spice and I will be buying one. Like so many others I just wish they’d bring back In Control as well.

When it was discontinued I moved to Soar as my go to Mac lip liner but it’s not quite perfect shade for me. I prefer the plum tone on In control where Plum is actually too pink.

Mac is vegan and cruelty free.

Donald Trump Inauguration Speech

Just my opinion

Fiona Moss

2025-01-21T14:09:00.0000000 2025-01-24T10:32:59.4430000

I have been thinking a lot about Donald Trumps inauguration speech.

I am a democrat, an activist for the planet, a vegetarian but I am also an advocate for unity and peace two words that rang out, some may argue the two most important words,

“I want to be a unifier and peacemaker”

The speech was book ended by two messages, the first “America First”

And then at the end of the speech in the closing minutes Mr. Trump said: ‘We will be a nation like no other, full of compassion, courage and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars, bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent and totally unpredictable.’

Peace and Unity.

There were a lot of cheers from the assembly which included the richest and most powerful trio in tech, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezo and Mark Zuckerberg. The tech money and power ever present, Hollywood money and power absent.

I chose not to be vaccinated against Covid, like for so many others, it was a tough stance to take. I didn’t lose my job as a teacher but I did lose a lot of my students and income. I was over the moon to see service men and women sacked over this issue being reinstated with full back pay.

Of course I shuddered when Mr. Trump said the drilling for oil and gas starts tomorrow, effectively immediately (in much the same way when he put a blanket blame on California governor Gavin Newson for the raging fires in LA) and declaring a national emergency on our southern border and sending troops to defend it.

I also want to highlight absolutely no mention of women, women’s health and women’s rights in this exceptionally well orchestrated and well delivered, (not reading off a card or teleprompter) as far as I could see.

A deep desire to stop wars is definitely something I am down with and we had a debate last evening, one of my climate friends posed the question if drilling for oil, stopped the Russians holding the world to ransom and saved all the people in Africa going to starve otherwise would you do it?

I couldn’t say I wouldn’t.

It’s very easy to criticise from the sideline, and it’s true Mr. Trump has managed to achieve the impossible escaping numerous criminal Indictments. Maybe he has been the victim of a witch-hunt and actually now knows what that feels like.

When the whispers in corridors of power have become so inaudible Barack Obama’s cheating on Michelle with Jennifer Aniston who knows what to believe.

After two assassination attempts and probably the scariest couple of years a man like Donald Trump has ever had to face there is something to be said for someone who has got the guts to get up there and believe in his ability to make things better for everyone.

We can only watch and wait and see.

Good Luck Mr. President. I too hope your legacy is the one you describe the greatest unifier and peacemaker in our history.

Not sure we ladies are buying the new gender equality legislation as something for us. Just saying.

Free image credit Pixabay.com

Penske Golden Globe Awards

Fiona Moss

2025-01-06T15:25:00.0000000 2025-01-06T16:14:12.0430000

Image by kjpargeter on Freepik

The Golden Globes are a big night in LA. We usually get a group together, watch the red carpet coverage on E! The event owned by Penske and this year hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser was held as usual at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel.

This is not a ticketed event, it’s a televised extravaganza for the stars of the TV and movie screen and their entourages to introduce us to the shows and movies deemed worthy of an award selected by approximately 300 people.

The Golden Globes whilst a commercial property of the media corporation Penske (who also own the Hollywood Reporter) is taken as the kick off to much more esteemed Academy awards campaigns later in the year, 2nd March, 2025 at 4pm Pacific standard time.

Whilst a Golden Globe win like this years Best Actress Demi Moore for her role in The Substance almost certainly guarantee her a nomination for this years Oscar ceremony, the 97th academy awards will be decided by over 10,000 academy members so a much larger and very different group to influence.

I love a shock result like Coralie Faggeat brilliant movie The Substance and an even bigger shock for Hollywood to recognise 62 year old Moore who said she was humbled after a 45 year career having never won anything before.

When I think back to all her movies, some cheesy I’ll grant you but many of them exceptional, Indecent Proposal with Robert Redford and Woody Harrelson was so good and Striptease with Burt Reynolds, do I need to go on (I am a dancer so I get how hard what she did was) and then think about her NEVER winning anything. Blah. That’s Hollywood.

The thing about the awards season, we get the same amount of media noise whether it’s the Golden Globes or the Oscar’s.

In Los Angeles we dress up and throw parties equally invested whether it’s the globes or the Oscar’s except how many of us know the first award ceremony of the season is actually the super powerful media, the ultimate influencers, trying to sway the old guard establishment by getting on that nomination list.

It’s celebrity foogazzi, it’s La La Land, Tinsel town where money talks and you gotta be on the list whatever it takes.

Rooting for Demi Moore for the Best Actress win. That’s one acceptance speech I sure as hell want to hear.

Breaking The Silence

A collection of stories from survivors of sexual abuse by Perry Power

Fiona Moss

2024-10-30T13:35:00.0000000 2024-10-30T14:14:33.0500000

How important it is for us to share the things that touch us, inspire us.

I have recently come across Wayne Scot Lukas a celebrity stylist born and raised in New Jersey.

He was the host of American TV show “what not to wear” and I have found myself interested in him and his point of view more and more over the last few weeks. @waynescotlukastyle

He introduced me to this book, I haven’t read it yet, I have it on my holiday list.

It was the authors story, a message shot, “Love Actually” style but with a much darker message, one of sexual abuse and how being unable to discuss things with his father had led to severe depression and suicidal thoughts. The flash cards, like yellow postik notes went on to say his father, an alcoholic, died in 2017 and he later discovered he too had been abused. His father had lived in silence and died in silence.

Even though Perry had been unable to speak to his father about this he decided to make his purpose giving other survivors of abuse the opportunity through his book and publishing company to share their stories and in doing so heal their trauma. The result of that work is Breaking The Silence. (For

me it translates to breaking the pattern, something I have had to do more than once (as have many) in my own life.

_

It reminded me of a story definitely not so heart rending for sure my grandmother told me when I was very young about her. I now know the wisdom in the story. At the time I am sure I didn’t really get it yet it stayed with me.

She told me how every Christmas she had watched her mother cut one leg off the turkey before she put it in the oven. Not understanding why, one year she decided to ask her mother why she did that.

Her mother, my great grandmother told her she wasn’t sure, her mother had done it and she had just always followed her, without question. So my grandmother and great grand mother turned to my great great grandmother and asked her why she had always cut one leg off the turkey before putting it in the oven.

“Oh that’s an easy one she said, I didn’t have a pan large enough for the whole bird”

I am looking forward to reading Breaking the Silence and I hope by sharing my own anecdote from my own childhood it helps Perry and in turn the people he has helped endure.

Joe Biden

A Job 👏🏻

Fiona Moss

2024-07-08T15:35:00.0000000 2024-07-11T16:10:54.9200000

Let me begin by saying I am a democrat and I voted for President Biden and Vice President Harris, 2021.

It makes me cringe when Joe Biden asks people to stop speculating on his health until after the NATO summit and his greatest friend and political ally Nancy Pelosi can’t come straight out and say she thinks he’s the man for the job.

I completely agree with many people, George Clooney said it all as his friend in the New York Times article, unless he steps down and gives the nomination to Kamala Harris, the first black female candidate in US history, and for no other reason thanks it’s better for the democrats (Michelle Obama I appreciate is unlikely) I fear Mr. Trump will likely steamroller over him.

On a side note after viewing all the men (bar two ) on the stage at the NATO summit July this 2024 I am sure I am not alone believing things would be better with a woman at the top.

Wildfox

Fiona Moss

2017-04-09T18:41:00.0000000 2024-10-02T10:33:36.2330000

I spend a lot of time in activewear, sweats, leggings etc and one of my absolute favourite brands these days is Wildfox. The collection is bit steep but you can find pieces in Off Saks, Nordstrom Rack and sometimes Marshalls for a better deal. Anyways these lovely original California comfies are made in USA which I like, LA has the largest number of garment workers in the US over 400,000 mostly women, from super soft fabrics like modal which are more sustainable than regular synthetics. The look is vintage inspired but the thing I like is the clothes are really unique and you don't see anything else quite like this brand. The sizes are a little off and they do tend to run on the large size so you may want to size down but other than this I haven't got a bad word to say about Wildfox, the few pieces I have invested in I have absolutely loved, they have worn and washed pretty well and I am always excited to see the new collections season to season. Their flagship store is in Sunset and worth a look.

Venus Cow Black Leggings Tights

Fiona Moss

2016-11-13T11:22:13.3900000 2016-11-13T11:44:15.2100000

As a dancer, teacher and choreographer I pretty much live in leggings, black tights and used to wear Capezio until my Mom sent me a couple of pairs of The PBL a few years ago now and I gotta tell you I am hooked. The great thing about them is they actually fit perfectly to my body, unusual I know for cotton which can go baggy but these just don't even if you wear them for more than one session and being cotton no issues with perspiring as it just absorbs. I cannot speak highly enough about this product which even though I've given them quite a beating they haven't faded and are still going strong. They are quite expensive at around 50 bucks but worth it because they are so much better than anything else I've tried from Nordstrom or Saks and the great thing about these tights is I don't just wear them in the studio, they are great to dress up with over knee boots for partying or wearing with things to the beach.

I may sound completely crazy in LOVE with this brand and that's because I am. Really worth paying that bit extra shipping to get a pair over to the States, these guys ship anywhere in the world. Also I am pretty impressed they give some of the profit to charity so great news all around.

Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum

Fiona Moss

2012-12-13T09:00:00.0000000 2016-07-21T09:02:57.7900000

The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, named for the English botanist John Parkinson's herbal, Theatrum Botanicum (1640), is an open-air theater founded in Topanga Canyon, near Santa Monica, California by Will Geer in 1973. In the 1950s Will Geer was blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. He had to sell his large Santa Monica home and move his family to a small plot in the canyon where they could grow their own produce. Geer's friend Woody Guthrie had a small shack on the property. They unintentionally founded what became an artists' colony. Since its founding in 1973, the Geer family has continued to operate the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Geer's former wife, Herta Ware, helped develop the outdoor summer theatre and continued to appear in plays there after her husband's death in 1978. The company features Shakespeare, as well as modern and contemporary authors. The theater, set in the natural amphitheater of a mountain canyon, is also used for occasional concerts.

Will Geer combined his acting and botanical careers at the Theatricum, by making sure that every plant mentioned in Shakespeare was grown there.

SIX MONTHS OF THEATRE FOR ONLY $75

Plus pre entry, parking, one free drink and reserved seating. This is the student price but it's not much more for adults, $122 (seniors and veterans $92)

I cannot say how much I loved this venue last year. I got to see 5 or 6 full scale excellent performances, a mix of Shakespeare and other classics as well as Cherry Docs by David Gow which was just amazing. Also included in my subsciption were several invites to other events like talks and poetry readings so all in all great value.

The venue is a must see outdoor amphitheatre so a wonderful place to go if you are visiting Southern California. It has a warm and friendly, intimate atmosphere and children are very welcome, (although most of the prodctions I've seen are quite mature.)

Huntington Library

Fiona Moss

2013-03-12T08:03:00.0000000 2016-07-21T08:06:57.0200000

PARADISE IN PASADENA

I had no idea this wonderful little piece of Californian history was tucked away in San Marino just off the 110 freeway. I went last Thursday for free by booking tickets ahead of time online, next free day is the 4th April but tickets do get snapped up quickly.

The house is small, but you can imagine wonderful parties being held in the grand rooms that open up on the biggest back yard you have ever seen. The collection of paintings features a couple by English 18th century artist Joshua Reynolds, his portrait of his mistress the English actress, Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse. Thomas Gainsborough's the Blue Boy is the most famous in the collection and we got to watch a 15 minute film giving some background on the picture and some of the mystery around it, the boy in the painting is not a member of the upper classes as his attire would suggest but it's thought he was a working boy, Jonathon Buttall, the son of a merchant friend of Gainsborough, dressed up for the artist to paint, as a tribute to Van Dyke.

Another painting purchased from the Duke Of Westminster is John Constable's, British landscape artist, View on the Stour. It was beautiful.

The gardens are absolutely amazing and huge. You feel as if you are travelling around the world as you explore. I particularly loved the Japanese garden. There is a totally cute cafe in the rose garden that serves afternoon tea and sandwiches, English style. The library holds plant sales regularly, a great way to take a little piece of the place home with you, I thought.

I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this place and you don't feel like you are in California for sure. The Huntington is supported by memberships and as usual you get free entry and other special benefits when you sign up but if you are broke get yourself online and grab your tickets for April. It would be a great day for kids and adults of any age.

Berkeley Rep

Fiona Moss

2013-06-19T12:31:00.0000000 2016-07-20T17:01:50.9370000

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

I was back up in Berkeley this weekend and my friend got tickets for us to see British director, Mark Wing Davey's take on this Shakespeare work at the Rep.

I have a real love for this theater as I have actually performed here a few years back before the refurb which i was excited to see, it is pretty stupendous. The glass ceiling with all the reclaimed wood is so cool architecturally.

The play was good, I've seen quite a bit of Shakespeare outdoors in LA, this production stands out, very light, modern and fun for Shakespeare. Spraying the whole stage with water, real water and lots of it and some special way to drain it all away was a feat of theatrical engineering I've never seen before, memorable and the costumes made the show for me.

There are two auditoriums, personally I prefer the more intimate Thrust, but the Roda is cool too.

Berkeley has some great culture, with Cal performances at Zellerbach Hall on campus www.calperfs.berkeley.edu so if you are in town make sure you stop by and check out this space. Susie Medak, the theater director has done a great job.

RANT OR RAVE?

Norton Simon Museum

Fiona Moss

2013-04-22T18:04:00.0000000 2016-07-19T18:07:18.2630000

AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE

Most people in LA think you have to go to Europe to see great works of art, not true. My friend Sariah and I visited the museum yesterday, Sunday and could not have been more surprised.

The gardens first of all are a work of art all on their own, they have been compared to Monet's Giverny outside Paris which I haven't seen yet but if they are as beautiful as Norton Simon that would be tough. For me I think the most surprising inclusion in the collection was one of the sculptures at the entrance, the one of Rodin’s Thinker. It’s so famous I never imagined I could see something like this on my doorstep in Los Angeles and I felt really privileged.

The museum opens at 12 noon and is very easy to find, just off Colorado Blvd. The collection of the Impressionists at the Norton Simon is breath-taking particularly for me as a dancer to see Edgar Degas’s famous bronze, The Little Dancer she’s so tiny but exquisite. I was also mesmerized by the number of works by Toulouse Lautrec an artist I was familiar with but had never seen for real before. I’m now a major fan.

He painted prostitutes and dancing girls of the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris and the pictures are wonderful, colourful and full of movement, expression and life. I also really enjoyed looking at some of the Dutch still lifes which were quite gruesome, yet captivating in a way. The dead rabbits and other animals were painted with so much detail amongst knives of shiny metal, fruit and food on basic kitchen slabs. They are presented in a long gallery with lots of seating which I liked as you could really take in the paintings without being cramped or rushed through.

The other works I was shocked to see in the collection were the Van Goghs particularly the Portrait of A Peasant which I recognised. It is a wonderful experience to actually stand and take in a piece of art, the real thing, when you've seen a print in a book or on a poster.

Like many other museums in LA you can become a member and pop in when ever for nada, the Norton is $65 for the year, a good deal I think. If you are strapped then visit for free the first Friday of the month between 6pm and 9pm.

Either way make sure to check out this wonderful museum. I've read many people say it's no Getty. Don't allow that to stop you sharing in this absolutely AMAZING collection and experience.

LA County Museum Of Art

Fiona Moss

2013-02-01T09:56:00.0000000 2016-07-19T10:00:05.2300000

With 100,000 objects dating from ancient times to the present, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States. A museum of international stature as well as a vital part of Southern California, LACMA shares its vast collections through exhibitions, public programs, and research facilities that attract nearly a million visitors annually.

STANLEY KUBRICK EXHIBITION (LACMA)

First off, whether you are a fan of Kubrick, an aficionado or completely uninitiated, this exhibition has something for everyone. I think this Hollywood icon, director is very cool (if you are not familiar remember "The Shining"......here's Johnny, starring Jack Nicholson)

When you walk in, you get a couple of tall, massive actually screens showing montages of his work from Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange, Space Odessey and Eyes Wide Shut which really sets you up for the whole experience. I didn't know that Kubrick was a recluse and even though he was an American, he died in 1999, he spent most of his life in London, somewhere he loved.

You really get a feel for the type of man he was, a complete neurotic perfectionist I think and get to see a whole bunch of his personal stuff, clearly a hoarder/collector.

One of the best parts for me, an amazing exhibit, a collection of his camera equipment, loads of old lenses and stuff which was awesome.

The way the whole thing is set up it goes from open space to much smaller rooms, like you are zooming in on his life and work which I thought was pretty cool. Also some pretty cool models of Dr Stranglove and Space Odessey sets, all to scale.

We spent about 3 hours checking everything out, could have een quicker if it wasn't so packed but I can see why everyone is interested, probably better to go during the day rather than in the evening. As members of the museum it was free for us, which was also cool.

LA is the first stop in North America and it is on for another 4 or 5 months so if you get the chance definitely check it out. So good to get such a close up on one of our greatest film genius. I had a really great time.

T J Maxx

Fiona Moss

2012-11-07T20:22:00.0000000 2016-07-18T20:25:33.0430000

WHAT'S HAPPENED TO TJ MAXX

I have just been to three TJ Maxx stores to try and find some new workout clothes and I must say as a massive fan over the years, how much the stores have gone down hill. I don't know if it's because of the economy that the buyers can no longer get the quality stock they used to but I felt like I was in K-Mart. The rails were full of cheaper brands that in my mind, don't fit the "designer labels for less" marketing and the prices weren't that great considering, an ugly Jones of New York suit for $100.

I thought it might just be the Torrance store, so I drove down to Palos Verde and also tried the one on Hawthorne Boulevard but they were all the same, no cool stuff for exercising; no cool stuff at all actually.

I don't know what's happened as this used to be one of my favorite stores but the brand has definitely changed. In the past I've found Gucci, Armani, Coach, this weekend I couldn't even find a pair of branded sweats.

I did pick up one pair of non branded light weight skinny jeans off the clearance rail for $4 which are great for four bucks but the designer find of old is sadly no longer available.

Magic Mike

Fiona Moss

2013-07-22T15:59:00.0000000 2016-07-09T16:15:11.6770000

Mike (Channing Tatum) is an entrepreneur. A man of many talents and loads of charm, he spends his days pursuing the American Dream from as many angles as he can handle: from roofing houses and detailing cars to designing furniture from his Tampa beach condo.

But at night... he's just magic.

The hot headliner in an all-male revue, Magic Mike has been rocking the stage at Club Xquisite for years with his original style and over-the-top dance moves. The more the ladies love him, the more they spend, and the happier that makes club owner Dallas (Matthew McConaughey).

COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT

This movie gets 6.1 out of 10 on IMDb, I was expecting better from Steven Soderbergh directing Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum, I got worse.

It's complete over pitch, a story inspired by Channing Tatum's real life story, think more a bad remake of British film, The Full Monty.

Like the Full Monty it is also billed as a comedy but that is a broad stroke.

The dance scenes could have been the film's life saver. Even though Tatum happened to have been a stripper in another life, his moves are way better out of the cheesy costumes/male g-strings. Even he couldn't add the X factor to the X rated bumping and grinding. For me it was look away cringe. It left me thinking was this someone's quick idea of a movie to exploit Tatum's moves after the Step Up series, a male version of the Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds Striptease except that was a great film by comparison to this.

The best part of the film is the exceptional character performance from Matthew McConaughey as the ageing strip show impressario Dallas. His character offered the movie the most depth but wasn't exploited nearly enough, the script was one dimensional and ended up as a simple teenage type boy meets girl rom com, a bit lame for a Soberbergh credit that could have had a high kick or two instead of all the crotch grabbing and buttock wiggling, for me all sauce and no substance I'm afraid.

Cabaret Soundtrack (1998)

Fiona Moss

2013-04-13T17:09:00.0000000 2016-06-13T17:24:20.2930000

MUSICAL THEATER AT IT'S BEST

I grew up into musical theater and went to a performing arts school in LA so have been captivated by this soundtrack since I was really young, my Mom played it to me constantly when I was really small. We would sing Two Ladies together while she did the chores. I saw the movie starring Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli that won them both the Oscar and Grey the Tony for his performance on Broadway and was totally blown. John Kander’s musical score makes it, no way it would have had the success without these timeless classic tunes.

Even though I wasn’t even born when this show and movie came out and were popular, sometime in the early 70s I think, I have the soundtrack on my ipod now. I was lucky enough to see the show on Broadway starring Miranda Richardson and Alan Cumming on a school trip to NY. The show was choreographed by one of my heroes Rob Marshall and directed by Sam Mendes, (Skyfall director and Kate Winslet’s ex.) I bought the CD recorded by the cast as a souvenir and still have it today.

There are so many tracks I love; Don’t Tell Mama, Willkomen, Two Ladies of course and the signature Cabaret which is so great for an energy boost at the end of a 5K run, that and Barbra Streisand belting out Don't Rein On My Parade:) Funny Girl.

I know it sounds crazy, uncool, a bit cheesy maybe but you just gotta love whatcha love.