Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Inside Repetto


Do you remember this photo? I took it at Repetto a famous store at rue de la Paix, where they sell tutus and ballet stuff. This time I took the inside of the shop, where they have their ballet shoes (well so I suppose, as I'm not really ans expert and I took the photo from the outside). I really love the display. BTW if you're into classical music someone passed me a link today that is really fantastic. Check it, it's called Medici.tv and it allows you to see, live, concerts, operas and, I suppose... ballets.

43 comments:

  1. So, yesterday we skated and today we dance. Love this shot. I do look forward to my Paris “treat” every day—thanks, Eric!

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  2. Wow, this is amazing! All our dance supply stores have the pointe shoes boxed and in the back room. Everything about Paris is ART!

    As are your pictures!
    Thank you, Eric,
    Mammie

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  3. They almost looked like stacked bread - and now I'm hungry for a BAGUETTE!!!

    I thought of your old Repetto photo while looking into a San Francisco store window over the weekend. They were using an old tutu as a prop on a $20,000 traveling trunk. I can't remember the trunk designer's name, but I suppose it doesn't matter!

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  4. Clearly, Michael's and Megan's performance on the ice inspired the ballet theme. (Doesn't he remind you of of Mikhail Baryshnikov?)

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  5. They even put a barre there, how brilliant!

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  6. @Jeff, You said, "...Mikhail Baryshnikov?) That perked up some one's ears. UK Lynn is going to be right over.

    Did you know, that by the mid-19th century, every French grand opera featured a formal ballet? I always thought that was cool. It's like getting the surprise in the Cracker-Jack box.

    I love ballet. I was forced to study ballet from age 4 to 16. Sort of like some kids were forced to study piano. Consequently, I do not dance. However, I love to go to the ballet and watch those who love to dance.

    Great photo BTW -- I love the pointe shoes -- a lot of earth tones.

    We have Capezio's ballet store here in San Francisco. They also sell leotards and tights. I am going to have to go to Repetto.

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  7. You put us on the inside track of a knowledgeable Parisian's life! I am just so addicted to your point of view of Paris. Thank you for ,what is for me, another undiscovered nook.

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  8. I'm in awe with this photo cause I love Repetto' s ballerines.
    They are so delicate and beautiful!

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  9. Now that is a SWEET shot!!! The inside of the store might have been looking that way for 100 years for all we know!

    Love it.

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  10. You were definitely on your "toes" for this image, Eric -:)

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  11. OHHHH , can you hear me weeping ( squalling) all the way from Birmingham?? I did so want to find Reptetto! Quel dommage. Well perhaps your photo will make me happy for now, but I must see it for myself. Was the white swan still in the window?? :(

    Eric, I"m pouting , big time!
    V

    WEll that seals that deal. I"m coming back to Paris. Get ready Eric!

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  12. My introduction to the French language occurred from listening to my sister's ballet lessons on tape as she practiced the various pointe positions and such in the family's den...let's see there was arabesque, and arabesque penchee, jete, and plie...funny what stays in the recesses of one's brain. To this day, however, I'm not sure what exactly are these movements or positions but you ballerinas out there certainly do. BTW...I agree with ET Suzy, these pointe shoes do look like little baguettes, and I too am suddenly hungry. Speaking of Mikhail B, I enjoyed him in White Nights (with tapper/hoofer Gregory Hines) and in The Turning Point.

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  13. @Coltrane_lives, "...White Nights...". Merci for the film lead -- I'll watch it.

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  14. «Louis» doesn't think that anyone particularly wants to see him in a tu-tu, least of all «Louis» himself....

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  15. I am watching "White Nights" and it opens with a piece by Roland Petit a French choreographer. I love his style. I would call him a realist or modern, but I'm not a critic. There is probably some nice neat category for his work. His dancers sometimes dance wearing jeans instead of the traditional leotards. I think that was very cool.

    Did you know, in 1947 his mother, Rose Repetto, founded the world-known ballet shoe company, Repetto?

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  16. I met Jean Babilée at the San Francisco Film Festival. They were showing the B&W classic film of the "Le Jeune Homme et La Mort" ballet by Roland Petit created in 1946. Jean Babilée was the male lead ballet dancer. Here is a photo taken in 1946 of the ballet -- if you are interested. http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=8a8aac65bb600c4b&q=Jean%20Babil%C3%A9e%20%20la%20june%20la%20mort&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJean%2BBabil%25C3%25A9e%2B%2Bla%2Bjune%2Bla%2Bmort%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GWYE_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

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  17. Interesting bits of info, Lois. It's fun being awake on the west coast at the same time you are and knowing you're out there.

    I love this shot. I adore the color, the almost-but-not-quite-symmetry of it. American city people: does it give you a New York feel? Or is Paris the only place we'd see anything like this? Yes, we can get ballet shoes in Los Angeles but not in such a setting.

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  18. I had the same reaction as ET Suzy, but I saw bagels, not baguettes. It's really a great photo perspective Eric and I can see this one in Zazzle. And Jeff, believe you me I am NO Mikhail Baryshnikov!

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  19. Once saw a ballet dancer grocery shopping. Even down the aisles she moved with such exquisite;y confident grace. Then I looked down at something like this.

    Now I’m thinking of Michael as more of a Nijinsky.

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  20. Gee, Repetto is still going strong. I remember that shop from when I'd pass it on Rue de la Paix, where I worked. My company's gone, but Repetto lives on!

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  21. Gee, Repetto is still going strong. I remember that shop from when I'd pass it on Rue de la Paix, where I worked. My company's gone, but Repetto lives on!

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  22. Love this shot! Thanks to ET Suzy I too see baguettes! Now I want a ham and cheese sandwich! Time for Paris since they dont taste the same stateside.

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  23. Medici.tv is a superb webaddress. Thank you Eric for this - again - nice discovery. Hope your day is going to be just nicer at work than the past few days. Take it easy. You know I'm surely the less credible to say it as I'm always running too fast in my job! But still. Bad pressure is bad, anyway. Good one can lead to wonderful ballets. Oh oh back to this picture :)
    Today a blue sky is on Paris. How welcome! Repetto, repetto, repetto, love this name. Sounds like Italy.
    Have a nice day. I'll go by this shop at lunch as for once I'll attend a business lunch in this aera. That'll change me! Wish you good dancing thoughts, all :)

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  24. Squeals of glee! Thanks for the link, Eric. I adore classical music, operas, etc.

    And the photo...it's fantastic!

    I agree, Mammie...everything in Paris is art!

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  25. First I thought that there are baguettes...Fantastic picture!

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  26. Oh, this is beautiful. Not just the shoes and their artful arrangement, but the idea that they will be used to create another form of art. Just gorgeous. Thank you, Eric.

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  27. Everyone learned a little francais from the ballet. My favorites are Swan Lake (lucky enough to have seen Nureyev) and Giselle. Merci pour ce photo charmant... et especialement pour medici... c'est merveilleux!
    Angela Bell

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  28. Oh, this takes me back. If I close my eyes I can remember the smell of a new pair of pointe shoes, and the fluff of the lambswool I would stuff into the toes and the satiny double-faced ribbons... it was like magic to me when I was young. Oof, that makes my heart hurt a little...

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  29. Just wanted to add a thing : when I read your post, a few hours ago, and its first words "Do you remember this photo?" I can say that not only I remembered immediately which photo it was but also its title (dance heaven) that I already thought at the time really beautiful! Its zazzle title is Ballerina though. See how a serious contendant for a PDP quizz I am, n'est-ce pas? ;)
    I took a cab today and OMW I did enjoy a wonderful Paris under a perfect sunny light. A photogenic day.

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  30. Medici.tv is great ! Thanks, Eric. It's now in my favorites.

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  31. I have to say, the stores in the US have so much to learn!! A simple display that looks great....although at first quick glance I thought it was cheese! You can tell I have not had lunch yet today...


    Sean

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  32. Hello! Just blogspotting. Great blog! I bookmarkd it.

    Happy blogging!

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  33. Medici.tv is great, thanks for passing that on.

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  34. that is lovely....I too thought it was bread at first.

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  35. I wonder how many shoes a professional ballerina goes through in a week. Thanks for the wonderful photo and the Medici link.

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  36. @Tall Gary, I checked out the photo. Yes, it is widely believed that the ballerina industry is rife with anorexia and foot deformities.

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  37. From ice skates to ballet shoes, you are keeping us primed to be active and on our toes!
    -Kim

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  38. Eric,
    I'd love the address for Repetto. We asked all over the Marais but couldn't find it. I'm on a misison here.
    V

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  39. That is really cool.
    Is it strange the first thing I thought of was the wand shop in Harry Potter?

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  40. Extremely lovely! :)

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