Over to Lynne:
LET’S DANCE! By Lynne Marshall
A special celebration is in order for Kate’s fiftieth book, I say let’s dance!
There’s nothing quite like kicking up our heels to express our joy, is there? Dancing allows us to let go of pent up feelings and it releases endorphins, so it is a win-win endeavor, wouldn’t you say?
I recently saw a lovely French movie titled The Intouchables (English translation) where my favorite scene is where Driss, after suffering through a long evening of tame classical music (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), jumps to his feet and pumps up the music volume to dance. He chooses Earth, Wind, and Fire to serenade the birthday boy Philippe, while he dances.
Here’s where it gets tricky – Philippe is a quadriplegic and is watching from his wheelchair. How cruel you say? Think again. Driss, a tough street guy, has forged a very special relationship since he’s been hired to be the helper for the aristocratic and ailing Philippe. Driss is the only person to treat Philippe like a regular guy, forgetting that he can’t move his hands or feet. Teasing him like a regular person instead of treating him like a delicate broken object. In other words, he has added life and joy to his otherwise routine existence. Philippe has the most glorious smile on his face listening to the raucous music and watching his crazy new friend (that is what he considers this young man who has invaded his life) dance. The scene made me cry with joy.
Ever notice something when you’re dancing? My guess is that you’re smiling, just like we all do when we let our hair down and kick up our feet. Well, today I’m doing a special “let it all hang out” dance for my friend and fellow Medical Romance author Kate Hardy, who, by the way loves to ballroom dance. ☺
What do you say we all get up and shake our booty for Kate’s fiftieth book!
Lynne Marshall writes contemporary and Medical Romance for Harlequin and The Wild Rose Press. The first book in the Grady family trilogy, Courting His Favorite Nurse, was a March 2012 Harlequin Special Edition. Dr. Tall, Dark…and Dangerous? is Lynne’s July 2012 Medical Romance. Also available in e-book only is, An Indiscretion, a contemporary romance with strong medical elements, (and ballroom dancing!) from The Wild Rose Press.
You can connect with Lynne Marshall on the Web:
Website http://lynnemarshall.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LynneMarshall.Page
Romancewiki http://www.romancewiki.com/Lynne_Marshall#On_The_Web
Author page http://rbpp-lm.blogspot.co.uk
26 comments:
Wonderful post and congrats to Kate on her 50th book...what an amazing achievement!
As for my favorite movie musical I love The King and I and could watch it endlessly. And as for dancers, they aren't a famous pair, but my mom and dad. I still remember sneaking down the stairs when I was supposed to be in bed when I was small and watching my mom and dad dancing in the living room with a fire lit in the fireplace. Awww...memories!
Lynne, that sounds like an amazing film. I'm going to put it on my list.
Fave musicals? That's a toughie. How can I choose between all the Gene Kelly ones? And then there's Dirty Dancing, which takes me back to my teens. And Grease (ditto, especially as my daughter loves it and we've seen the stage show together). I can't choose!
And I have a ballroom dancing story for you. DH and I have been, ahem, struggling with the waltz. Everyone else goes neatly round the edge of the room, and we end up in spirals in the middle, wondering quite where we went wrong. Anyway, last night, we'd spent most of the lesson doing the jive, and our teacher said we could cool down a bit with... yup, a waltz. DH and I looked at each other and sighed. And then we noticed that we were still dancing neatly round the edge. Huh? I don't know what we did differently, but it worked. (And I can't wait to get my proper ballroom dancing shoes in a fortnight's time.)
Dancer - I nearly forgot! Antonio Banderas in Take The Lead. I'm not over-enamoured of the music in it, but I loved the film, and - well, yeah, we all know what I think of Mr Banderas :)
Hi Christine!
You gave me chills telling about your parents romantic dancing. I believe that couples who dance together stay together for life!
I loved the King and I, too.
So many wonderful classic musicals to enjoy. I love that we have dance shows on TV now. It's about time!
Kate! I'm so happy to be here (sorry about the time delay in California) :)
Gene Kelly is incredible. Just the other night on the classic movie channel they played the famous dance scene in An American in Paris where he and Leslie Caron did the most amazing and sensual dance. Wow - you just can't top that man.
Oh, and I loved Antonio's dancing, too. Really fun movie.
I'm proud to say that Grease was filmed at my high school, and I remember the summer they took over our track field. Loved that movie.
I absolutely loved your ballroom dancing story. Sometimes, if we don't think too much, the dances work out just right! Good for you and DH for dancing together. I bet it has added a lot to your already solid marriage.
Thanks for having me here. I'll go try to wrangle up some more visitors!
hugs,
Lynne
I was just reminded of Shall we Dance with J-Lo, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere. A wonderful way to rediscover yourself.
Oh and congrats again to the Party Animal Kate. This is the longest party I've ever attended, and attended, and attended. Great fun and super guests.
Lynne - it's lovely to have you here :) We have Strictly Come Dancing (I think you have a similar one under a different name, but also with Len Goodman as a judge - he's a sweetie, at least in the UK one). I can't wait for it to start. And, since we started dance classes in January, I have HUGE respect for the celebs on the show - it takes a lot of hard work to get those steps right. (We were talking about it in class last night.)
Fiona - LOL, I'm one of these people who likes to celebrate with lots of groups of friends (so that means any birthday lasts at least fortnight - meeting up for lunch or coffee or dinner or a movie). There's another month of partying to go. But I have some FANTASTIC guests, all of whom prove that writers are some of the nicest and most interesting people in the world :)
Hey Princess Fiona! Great to see you here. I loved, loved, loved Shall We Dance. It also has one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in it - The Book of Love. Wow - so sweet.
But - I saw the Japanese version of Shall We Dance long before the American version came out, and I must say, I was partial to that one. Such a wonderful concept for a movie.
thanks for showing up again! LOL
the drinks and food are still great here.
Kate besides our ballroom show with the wonderful Len Goodman - Dancing with the Stars it's called over here, we have SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE where young dancers from all genres compete each week. The choreography is fantastic on that show (sometimes it's a miss, but mostly superior stuff)
My favorite musical is Brigadoon and Gene Kelly is my favorite dancer.
Congratulations, Kate. What an awesome achievement.
Lynne, I still have that movie on my list. Maybe this weekend.
My favorite movie musical is Mama Mia. If ever I'm feeling a bit blue I put in the DVD and dance. The movie makes me not just grin but laugh out loud. And I get to sing those songs for days to follow.
Don't include me in the book drawing as I have already read and thoroughly enjoyed DTDandD. : )
I LOVE to dance!!! And Kate's 50th book seems like a great reason for me to bust a move!
My favorite dancing movies are Footloose, Flashdance, Step Up, Dirty Dancing....
There are just so many to choose from!
Hi Tammy!
I remember doing Brigadoon in junior high school drama class - as the annual school musical. What a lovely and magical play that is.
OK - I'm totally with you on Gene Kelly - I think it's a tie between him and Antonio Banderas at this point :)
thanks for reading and commenting.
Hi Robena!
Thanks for stopping by. Oh, yes, Mama Mia was a kick. Loved the movie, too.
Since you and I are both Curve's girls - women's gym with circuit excercises and machines for those unfamiliar with it - I think you'll appreciate hearing this. Our local gym attendant loves Mama Mia too, and she often plays the soundtrack for our workouts. I always excercise a little bit harder when that music plays.
Hi Wendy!
You're so right, lately there have been a lot of great dance movies. I wouldn't dare try most of the moves I see those talented dancers do, but it's great to watch.
thanks for coming by and busting a move on behalf of Kate's 50th book with Mills & Boon!
I like the Phantom of the Opera.
Hi BN100!
The Phantom of the Opera is indeed a beautiful and mysterious film. I love that Gerard Butler played the phantom in the movie!
Great post!! I LOVE dancing, dance, dancers (just in from my morning zumba class which always leaves me with a smile) and can't get enough movies about dancing. My current favorite is the gorgeous Channing Tatum in Step Up. I adored Burlesque. Obviously there's the old time faves like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. And who couldn't fall in love with Antonio Banderas?
OMG Grease was filmed at your school, Lynne???? How amazing. I've seen that movie over 30 times- still can't get enough of it!
Congrats on the 50 books, Kate!! xx
Great photo, Lynne!
Hi Louisa!
Yes, they used my HS track field to film Grease. Little did we know back then what a hit it would be!
I loved dancing with you at National Conference, BTW. What a blast. I haven't seen Channing Tatum in the recent movie where the guys are male strippers for ladies, but I can only imagine how fun that might be? blush
Yes, Step Up and all of those street dancing movies are something. I couldn't imagine doing that kind of dancing as I'm afraid of pain and broken bones! LOL
thanks so much for commenting, Louisa. :)
Fiona - I buy my photos from Bigstock for blogs etc. Yes, that photo captures the joy of dancing, I'd say.
Thanks for chiming in you lovely RITA and Ruby lady you. :)
Lynne,
I do love to dance. I've been known to dance when driving a car-carefully I might add. Kate, I'm dance with joy over your 50th.
Susan Carlisle
Susan! Dancing while driving - now that's something I'd love to see you do.
Very carefully
:)
Thanks for stopping by fellow medical romance author Susan Carlise!
How did I miss this post? My favorite musicals are the classics; give me Rodgers and Hammerstein any day over Sondheim. I love the music in The King and I and South Pacific; every song is amazing. And favorite dancer? Hmmm... Probably Baryshnikov. Or Gene Kelley. Or Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Donald O'Conner, Cyd Charisse, Sammy Davis Jr, Gregory Hines, Michael JAckson, Savion Glover, Gelsey Kirkland, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins... OK, I'm stopping now.
(PS - Did you know that I worked with one of the T-Birds from Grease? Kellly Ward (aka Putzie) and I choreographed a production of Oklahoma at USC back in 2003!)
Laura, you are amazing!
I'm so glad you discovered this blog. I love all of the dancers you've named. Yes, yes, yes to all of them. I absolutely loved Gregory Hines (tap dancing has never gotten due respect) and who could top Donald O'Connor running up the side of that wall?
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
First name drawn from the hat for Lynne's book - Christine Warner. Please contact me kate(dot)hardy(at)btinternet(dot)com with your details, and I'll get everything sorted :o) Thanks for taking part!
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