Natalie Portman’s Black Swan ballet trainer Mary Helen Bowers of Balletbeautiful.com
BalletBeautiful: I’m not in the habit of recommending other peoples ballet training regimens. However, Mary Helen Bowers Balletbeautiful.com: http://www.balletbeautiful.com/ did an amazing job working with Natalie Portman as her trainer for Black Swan. Women who are serious about working to develop lean long muscled bodies can’t go wrong having her as a trainer. About Mary Helen Bowers:
She began studying as a full scholarship student at the School of American Ballet in Manhattan at age 15. She was invited to join New York City Ballet at age 16. She danced for 10 years with the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center and on stages all over the world. She graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. And, she created Ballet Beautiful™ method as a highly targeted and effective approach to fitness. At the heart of the Ballet Beautiful method is Mary Helen's expertise; the exquisite grace, beauty and strength that are the essence of a ballerina's form.
The 2011 Oscars: I’m having a small group of friends over this afternoon to watch the 2011 Academy Awards presentation. Usually it doesn’t make much difference to me what pictures and actors and actresses win but this year I have two dogs in the fight. My picks are:
The King’s Speech for best film
Natalie Portman for best actress in Black Swan
Colin Firth for best actor in The Kings Speech
Long time reader’s may recall that my mom was English and my biological father (Great uncle John) was Welsh, so I’m predisposed to favoring inspirational films about the Brits. I think The Kings speech has greater appeal – to the Academy – than Black swan.
I hope I’m wrong, but I think the film The Kids Are All Right with Annette Bening will probably win best picture and Bening best actress as I fear the film has more general appeal to the Academy. Sigh!
Update: I’m delighted to say that I got three for three (above) of my Oscar pics for this year!
People my age and younger don’t realize what a tremendous role-model King George VI was to the English people during WW II. The story of the Kings Speech provides some insight into what went into helping George VI be the leader he was.
I’m so pleased that Natalie Portman got the recognition she deserves for her frighteningly realistic portrayal of a ballet dancer who deteriorates mentally under the stress involved in competing with rivals for the lead in Swan Lake and in making the role of the Black swan her own.
In addition, Natalie, in her acceptance speech, thanked Mary Helen Bowers for helping her train for a year to make her into a believable ballerina.
