Think You Can Dance to Tune of Paul Taylor?

James Samson, Robert Kleinendorst, Amy Young and Sean Mahoney in the Paul Taylor Dance Company's "Three Dubious Memories." Photo by Tom Caravaglia.

BY TAMARA BECK

WANTED: Two good dancers.

The Paul Taylor Dance Company, in association with Talenthouse and Self Magazine, will award two scholarships for the Paul Taylor Dance Company Summer Intensive in New York City.

Dancers who think they have the moves should submit a video no longer than 90 seconds that conveys their love of dance and explains why they deserve to attend the summer intensive. The competition is open to all genres.

Paul Taylor will lead the panel of five jurists that will choose the winners. Among them are Matthew Diamond, dance director of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Dancemaker” about PT and the company. On the panel, too, are PT dancers Michael Trusnovec and Annmaria Mazzini. One male and one female will be selected for the summer intensive.

In "Spring Rounds," dancers mimic butterflies and birds. Photo from West Coast Intensive.

The submission deadline is 14 April; voting begins on 15 April, and winners will be announced on 27 April. The summer intensive is 5-29 July.

Visit http://www.talenthouse.com/ to learn more about the summer intensive scholarship and http://www.ptdc.org/ to learn more about Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty, and Many More!!!
Aretha Franklin, left, blowing out the candles on her birthday cake Friday night at the Helmsley Hotel. At right, The Queen of Soul with Smokey Robinson. Photos by William Sykes/AP.

WITH reports of her death, an incurable disease and a surgery that she says “resolved” health problems that led her a few months ago to cancel a series of concerts until May – with all of these travails behind her, The Queen of Soul is back in form.

Surely, there is need to further identify Her Majesty. Those still scratching their heads should tramp over to GOOGLE.

Over the weekend, she visited the Big Apple to take in some theater – specifically “Driving, Miss Daisy” starring Morgan Freeman and Vanessa Redgrave.

After the play Friday night, she and 100 or so close friends repaired to the Helmsley Hotel to celebrate her 69th birthday. Yours Truly was not on the guest list. Seemingly, the Associated Press was the only media outlet allowed in. See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhebbyIrmFg

A number of marquee names were in the house: Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett, Clive Davis. Word is Oprah was invited but did not attend. Gayle (King) was there, though.

Her Majesty was noticeably thinner. She looked a bit tired, too, but otherwise she looked swell. Judging by reports of the few bars (“The Way We Were”) she sang with Dennis Edwards (Temptations), she is in fine voice too.

Long live the queen! – By Yours Truly, Vevlyn Wright