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Benjamin Tidbits

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Fanatical found a few Benjamin interviews that might be of interest to those of you who like Ben, and for everyone else there are some Natalie mentions to enjoy.

First up is an interview with Maxim, in which there is this funny exchange.

You’re engaged to Natalie Portman – which of your moves do you think impressed her the most?
[laughs] I think it was lifting her over my head. I didn’t know at the time, but Dirty Dancing is one of her favorite films. So I think that was a good move.

Then there’s a French article, which Carlotto or one of our other French regulars will have to translate anything of importance.

Finally, an interview with Vanity Fair Italy. After the jump we have the full translation but here is a little excerpt.

I read that you and Natalie fell in love dancing together. It that right?
I think it would have happened anyway. And I consider myself lucky to be in love, we both are, I think. But generally speaking, dancing with someone certainly can facilitate the emergence of a relationship; There are two bodies that move along with the rhythm of the music, there is proximity. The dance communicates who we are.

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Art Explained

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Back in November we posted a really great Black Swan poster. Now the artist has explained the inspiration for the piece and the tricks and tools he used in order…

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Trainer Talk

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Dance Magazine has an interview with Marina Stavitskaya, who was one of Natalie’s ballet trainers for Black Swan. In the interview there are a couple Black Swan questions, and Marina, in response, has some more details and very kind words for Natalie.

Natalie Portman thanked you in her Academy Award acceptance speech. How did you end up working with her?

Benjamin Millepied called me and said “Marina, I would like you to work with Natalie and show her precise Vaganova style.” When I met her, I could see she had studied ballet before. In class, she was like a mathematician, very serious and determined to take each correction—working on her feet, legs, back, and arms. She achieved a lot. She did fouettés and piqué turns on pointe. Her arms were slightly different than I wanted, so we worked on them, bringing a little Russian touch. I enjoyed working with her and felt we had a good connection.

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