Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Winner Takes All by Patricia McBride Patricia A McBride. Patricia McBride lives in Cambridge, England and is the author of several self help books. Her first novel 'Winner Takes All' is gaining great reviews. She is currently working on a sequel. Patricia became an author almost by accident. She delivered an assertiveness training course for a publishing house and they asked her to write an assertiveness training pack for teachers. She had no idea whether she could write, but the publishers assured her they could reword it if necessary. Fortunately, they didn't seem to change anything and her writing has gone from strength to strength. Patricia has also written for The Guardian, The Daily Express and several newspapers. She is finding writing a novel a very different challenge and hopes that people will enjoy her book. Patricia McBride: A Living Legacy Of Dance. Patricia McBride, 2014 Kennedy Center Honoree, is a legendary principal ballerina who studied under renowned choreographer . The critically-acclaimed dancer spent 28 years in the spotlight enrapturing audiences for before retiring. Her lifelong devotion to the art continues to inspire dancers at all levels as Associate Artistic Director at . A dancer tells a silent story; using hands, feet, body and face to convey emotion. Thus, the highly-skilled art form is arguably one of the most intricately expressive. Without words to convey meaning, a dancer acts as a vessel to music and uses small nuances and sweeping motion to engage an audience. As the most skilled and graceful member in a company of dancers, becoming “principal” is a sought-after and fiercely-earned title, because the principal is the star. Former Kennedy Center Honoree, the late George Balanchine, was one of the world’s premiere choreographers. Hailing from Russia, he co- founded two of America’s leading ballet institutions, School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet. When he accepted 14-year-old ballerina Patricia McBride into School of American Ballet on a scholarship, he found one of his brightest stars. Patricia McBride started dancing as a young girl in New Jersey. By age 18, she became Balanchine’s youngest principal dancer and he began writing parts specifically for her. McBride put her implicit trust in Balanchine. She told PBS, “We would jump off a bridge. If he said to jump off that bridge, we’d all jump. Because we had so much trust in him.” The Balanchine method of dance is rigorous and differs from classical ballet. Characteristics include extreme speed, precise musical timing, phrasing and syncopation. Every move is arguably bigger, with more depth and dimension. As such, his method defies boundaries and marries athleticism with grace. and Patricia McBride perform 'Other Dances' with the New York City Ballet at Covent Garden, London. (Photo by Alastair Muir/Evening Standard/Getty Images) As one of his star students, Patricia McBride put herself in Balanchine’s hands and immersed herself in her art. She magnificently embodied her master’s creative vision and danced for him to critical acclaim for 28 years. Some of her notable roles include Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Colombine in “Harlequinade” and Swanilda in “Copelia.” Enduring Romance. Ballet is often a sensual art. Seasoned partners weave a passionate or turbulent tale of romance as their bodies collide and intertwine to hold audiences captive under their spell. McBride exuded spectacular chemistry with her famed male partners including New York City Ballet ballet master , and Mikhail Baryshnikov. McBride’s love affair with ballet led to meeting her life partner, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. The Paris Opera Ballet star joined NYCB in 1970. They fell in love, married in 1973, and enjoy a fairy tale happy ending by still being married to date. Passing the Torch. At 46, McBride retired from New York City Ballet and her final performance was marked by thousands of roses flooding her feet on the stage. She transitioned from dancing diva to the role of revered and respected mentor as Associate Artistic Director and Master Teacher at Charlotte Ballet. Now 72, the iconic star is passing Balanchine’s torch by recently teaching his 1946 ballet “The Four Temperaments” to her students. Patricia McBride arguably defines dance and her brilliance has become a standard to which later generations of dancers aspire. An icon in her field, she was admirably humble about receiving the Kennedy Center Honor, telling PBS, “I was astonished and moved and it’s been such a wonderful thing. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s so amazing. I never in a million years would have thought that this was gonna happen to me.” Patricia McBride is one of five honorees at the “37th Annual ” which airs on Tuesday, Dec. 30 (9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) on CBS. You May Also Be Interested In These Stories. [display-posts category=”only cbs” wrapper=”ul” posts_per_page=”5″] This Legend Just Became a Kennedy Center Honoree. Being a ballerina isn't all tutus and twirling. Though it's designed to look light and effortless, ballet is the most difficult and competitive form of dance there is. To rise to the top of the pack, as new Kennedy Center Honoree ballerina Patricia McBride did during her career at the New York City Ballet, it takes a special gift — and a ton of dedication. Along with actors and and singers and , McBride just became one of the five newest artists to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in 2014, which rewards entertainers whose work has made a positive impact on American culture. McBride definitely qualifies. The 72-year-old ballerina has had one of the greatest professional dance careers in American history. She turned pro at just 16 years old, and by 18 she was the youngest principal dancer in the New York City Ballet. (On the other hand, when I was 18 years old, my greatest achievement was not failing gym, which is probably why McBride received a Kennedy Center Honor this year and I did not. No hard feelings though.) Such an icon deserves to be celebrated. Let's take a look back at McBride's historic career, and check out what she's doing now. What do you need to know about Patricia McBride? She Was Balanchine's Muse. George Balanchine, often called the "father of American ballet," was one of the greatest choreographers of the twentieth century. He took McBride under his wing, and made her the youngest principal dancer in his company — the New York City Ballet. Yeah, he was kind of a big deal, and he made McBride kind of a big deal too. Balanchine was given a Kennedy Center Honor the first year the awards were created, in 1978. Now that McBride has gotten one as well, her career has come full circle. She's Danced with Some Very Famous Partners. Balanchine isn't the only man who worked with McBride. The other founder of the New York City Ballet, Jerome Robbins, also choreographed numbers for her, and even created new roles just for McBride herself, including one in The Four Seasons , one of his most famous works. She also danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov or, as you may remember him, the sexy Russian whom Carrie almost married instead of Big on Sex and the City . Yeah, that guy was a real dancer — and a really good one at that. Now She's Her Own Boss. McBride retired from dancing professionally a few decades ago, when she was 46. Now, she and her husband (fellow ballet dancer Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux) run the Charlotte Ballet in North Carolina. The Ballet even renamed its theater after them. The two former principals instruct up-and- coming dancers, and also provide dance programs for the community and at-risk youth. Even in her 70s, McBride's still got it. Kennedy Center Honors Five Extraordinary Artists. WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS) — Eminent artists, friends and peers of this year’s five honorees gathered in Washington, D.C. last night (Dec. 7) to present entertaining and heartfelt tributes at “The 37TH Annual Kennedy Center Honors,” the entertainment special will be broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 30 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS. The annual event recognizes recipients for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures and television. In keeping with tradition, the roster of performers and presenters remained secret prior to the gala, and a short biographical film was featured during each honoree’s tribute. Performers and presenters included Jared Angle, Christine Baranski, Laura Benanti, Jeffrey Cirio, Misty Copeland, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jane Fonda, Lady Gaga, Whoopi Goldberg, , Jennifer Hudson, Garrison Keillor, , , Jane Lynch, Bruno Mars, Reba McEntire, Kate McKinnon, Sam Moore, Jessie Mueller, Kelli O’Hara, Tiler Peck, Pentatonix, Martin Short, Esperanza Spalding, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen, , and Usher. President and Mrs. Barack Obama were seated with the honorees in the Presidential Box of the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, after hosting the traditional White House reception for the honorees. Photo credit BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images. Host Stephen Colbert opened the festivities, stating, “Tonight’s celebration of the arts is in keeping with the vision of President Kennedy, who in 1963 said, ‘I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty.’ So tonight, Washington puts the arts above politics. Because no matter what party you belong to, everyone wants a selfie with Tom Hanks… On the signature wall behind me, these are the names of those who have gone before. To this roll of honor, we now add five men and women whose creativity has enriched our lives.” Academy Award, Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Tony Award-winning actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg introduced the tribute to multiple Grammy Award-winning soul singer Al Green, stating, “There’s something in the songs written and performed by Al Green that makes you believe in a higher power, because they soar above just about what anybody else can do. There’s something in the gospel sound that Al Green returned to that makes you understand the dual meaning of ‘soul’ music. So never has anyone made soul music more inclusive.” The musical portion of the tribute to Al Green commenced with a vibrant medley of songs, including “I Can’t Get Next to You” and “Love & Happiness,” performed by the multiple Grammy Award-winning band Earth, Wind & Fire. Next, Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson sang “Simply Beautiful,” followed by a smooth rendition of “Let’s Stay Together” by multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Usher. Finally, Grammy Award-winning R&B singers Mavis Staples and Sam Moore gave the audience a rousing rendition of “Take Me to the River,” which concluded the performances honoring Al Green. Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski paid tribute to renowned ballerina Patricia McBride. “From her dark eyes and porcelain skin down to her impossibly pointed arch… she was ‘the One.’ The One in Red, the One in Pink, the One you could not take your eyes off of. Her dancing had the precocity of a carefree child, or the ferocity of a linebacker. The elasticity of a rubber Gumby, the lightness of a sparrow in flight. There was her blazing partnership with Edward Villella, but she also danced with the great Jacques D’amboise and the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov. She was the muse of two of the 20 th century’s greatest choreographers: Balanchine and Robbins… all of these names are Kennedy Center honorees. Tonight, at long last, she joins their company.” A spectacular series of dance pieces in honor of Patricia McBride commenced with “Fascinating Rhythm,” performed by New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck, followed by “Rubies” pas de deux danced by New York City Ballet soloist Lauren Lovette and Boston Ballet principal dancer Jeffrey Cirio. Next, American Ballet Theater dancer Misty Copeland was sublime in the solo from Tchaikovsky’s pas de deux. Then, Tiler Peck returned to the stage with New York City ballet principal dancer Jared Angle for “.” A rousing finale of “I Got Rhythm,” featuring all of the previously seen dancers as well as additional dancers from Patricia McBride’s company, The Charlotte Ballet, completed the stirring performances. Multiple Emmy Award-winning television host and comedian David Letterman, a 2012 Kennedy Center Honoree, began the tribute to Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks by saying, “I’ve known Tom Hanks for a long, long time. He and I met by chance in Hollywood, Calif. We were kids. Both wanting to get into show business. We parked next to one another in a huge film studio lot. Coincidentally, we were auditioning that day. Tom was auditioning for a little something called ‘Bosom Buddies.’ I was auditioning for a little something called Menudo… and pretty much our careers have been the same ever since.” Multiple Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and 2006 Kennedy Center Honoree Steven Spielberg continued the homage to Tom Hanks. “Even though Tom and I have collaborated in film and television and I’ve seen him walk the boards of Broadway – I am a huge fan. He is an artist of the highest magnitude whose brilliance is only exceeded by his modesty. Tom thinks of himself as the luckiest guy in the world – I see him as the hardest- working guy I know. Tom is also a good man. A good friend. A good husband, father, grandfather and America’s favorite son, who has inspired us over the years to be better people – and isn’t that the great gift of art? And Tom’s art comes from his heart. It is this undeniable driving force that raised him to the mezzanine level of the Kennedy Center – and why we are here tonight to look up to you, Tom – to say thank you.” Actor Martin Short, a Tony and Emmy Award winner, served as Master of Ceremonies for the performance tribute to Hanks, which commenced with a fun rendition of “That Thing You Do” by the vocal group Pentatonix. Next, three stars of the Broadway stage, Laura Benanti, Jessie Mueller and Kelli O’Hara, sang “They Can’t Take that Away From Me.” Then, Martin Short led all of the performers for the upbeat finale of “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” featuring the U.S. Army Chorus, the U.S. Army Color Guard, the U.S. Naval Academy Gospel Choir, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and the United States Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass. Grammy Award-winning author, humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor spoke eloquently about Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Tony Award-winning comedienne Lily Tomlin, stating, “Lily went off to New York and she knew very well she wanted to be an actor, not a joker. And she was so lucky, she made a commercial for a cold medicine and was so terrific as a person with nasal congestion that she got hired by a hit TV show and she became the telephone operator and she became the little girl with the sinuses. And in no time, she was beloved by millions and millions of people. One more thing about her is that she has that fabulous smile, and she’s had it ever since she was a kid. People who adore Lily Tomlin ask you if you know her, and if you do, they want to know if she really is who we imagine she is. And she really is.” Next, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, actress and comedian Kate McKinnon, Grammy Award-winning country music singer and actress Reba McEntire, and Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Jane Fonda, appeared in a spoken word performance piece honoring their longtime friend and comedy hero, Lily Tomlin. Multiple Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, a 2011 Kennedy Center Honoree, spoke eloquently about multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sting. “Sting has always responded to the world in which he lives, as well as the world inside his head. He is one of our essential musicians because in his search for his own truth, he whispers directly into our hearts. As T.S. Eliot says, ‘Music heard so deeply it is not heard at all but you are the music while the music lasts.’ With relentless curiosity, and a wanderlust for world music of every era, Sting has never settled on any one mode of expression. The only constant has been the search for the joy creativity holds locked in its mysterious origins.” The musical homage to Sting commenced with multiple Grammy Award winner Lady Gaga singing a rock-infused rendition of “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” succeeded by a touching version of the famous song “Fragile” by multiple Grammy Award-winning musician Esperanza Spalding, who was accompanied on the piano by Academy Award and multiple Grammy Award-winning musician Herbie Hancock, a 2013 Kennedy Center Honoree. Then, Academy Award, Golden Globe and multiple Grammy Award-winning recording artist Bruce Springsteen, a 2009 Kennedy Center Honoree, took the stage to perform the soulful song, “I Hung My Head.” Finally, Grammy Award winner Bruno Mars rocked the house with a medley of iconic hits, including “So Lonely,” “Roxanne,” and “Message In a Bottle.” He was joined by cast members from Sting’s new Broadway musical “The Last Ship,” together giving an amazing performance that brought the evening of entertainment to its rousing conclusion. You May Also Be Interested In These Stories. [display-posts category=”only cbs” wrapper=”ul” posts_per_page=”5″] Summer Study Guide: From Studio to the Stage. The dancers jump to attention when Patricia McBride walks into morning ballet class at the Chautauqua School of Dance. Her beaming smile instantly puts the group at ease. “There’s a rhythm to the step,” says the former New York City Ballet principal in her warm yet straightforward manner, as she demonstrates a detail of a rond de jambe. After class, students saunter out of the lakeside studio and down a tree-canopied path toward the historic amphitheater, where they’ll rehearse for a performance later that day. Dancing in this bucolic setting—surrounded by music, theater, daily lectures, and world-class teachers—is what students have come to expect from the Chautauqua ballet intensive, just one of many arts programs at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York. The school offers small classes, individualized attention, and ample performance time to its 70 participants—chosen from the roughly 700 who audition. The secluded village environment, where dancers mingle with young artists of all disciplines, gives the program an intimacy rarely found at city-based ballet intensives. And with two companies in residence—North Carolina Dance Theatre and the Chautauqua Ballet Company—students get up-close exposure to life in the professional world. Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, artistic director of the school (and of NCDT), first came to Chautauqua as a NYCB dancer, with his partner in dance and life, McBride. “I fell in love with the place,” he says. “It’s such a spiritual and intellectual community.” In 1980, he was invited to launch the summer ballet program. With classes of 20 or less, he takes pride in the school’s family-like atmosphere: “We have the luxury of staying small. There’s a spirit of camaraderie here.” That camaraderie extends from four spacious studios—where students take class with the likes of NYCB principal Daniel Ulbricht and master teacher Michael Vernon—to the stage of the 5,000-seat amphitheater, where they perform both classical repertory and faculty-choreographed work, accompanied by a live orchestra. “I believe students are never too young to be onstage,” Bonnefoux says. “That’s where they really discover themselves.” Students are divided into four programs. The majority (30 advanced dancers, ages 14–18) take part in the seven-week Festival Dancers program. A typical 9 a.m.–8 p.m. day takes them through two rehearsals and three classes, which can include pointe, variations, partnering, jazz, modern, and daily technique. They also participate in a Choreographic Workshop, collaborating with music students for a special showing of new works. The Company Apprentice program, also seven weeks, accepts 12 dancers ages 16–19. They follow a similar schedule but take company classes and perform with NCDT. Children ages 11–13 enroll in shorter workshops. Across levels, the training emphasizes Balanchine-based principles. Ulbricht studied at Chautauqua for four summers and has been a guest teacher since 2006. When he was a student, he says, the dual focus on training and performing steered him toward a professional course. “We got onstage so quickly; it was just like being in a company. And teachers took a real interest in me developing as a person, not just as a dancer.” Katie Tomer, 20, in her second year with the Los Angeles Ballet, echoes that sentiment: “It’s the best of both worlds, with the balance between technique and performance. The people teaching you are also rehearsing you, so you can apply what you learned in class onstage.” For many dancers, working with McBride is reason enough to spend a summer at Chautauqua. “To learn Balanchine from one his muses—it doesn’t get much better than that,” says Tomer, who danced Stars and Stripes during her second summer at the festival. Former student Anna Gerberich, now a dancer with NCDT, agrees. “I got my first taste of a coaching experience from Patricia, learning Balanchine’s Who Cares? She showed me how the tiniest details can make all the difference, from the tilt of your chin to the position of your foot.” Gerberich also benefited from her one-on-one mentorship with a NCDT company member, an opportunity given to all Company Apprentices. “To learn what it takes to go from a student to a company dancer—that was priceless,” she says. Despite the packed schedule, students still find time to “soak up the culture,” says Bonnefoux, enjoying free music, dance, and theater in the evenings. Ulbricht describes the campus as “mini-New York, minus the cement. Every night you could see something different.” For him, teaching at Chautauqua has been just as satisfying as studying there: “To watch the light turn on in a dancer’s head, and be the one who helped pull the switch —that’s an incredible sensation.” And this is the kind of growth that Bonnefoux hopes to foster. “It’s important not to judge students by how they are now,” he says, “but to look at their commitment to dance and what kind of dancer they can become.” Nancy Wozny writes about health and the arts from Houston. Photo of Patricia McBride and student at Chautauqua by Jordan Schnee, courtesy Chautauqua.