Becky FifieldMay 9, 20143 minDon’t Confuse Geisha and Courtesans (Oiran and Tayu)Images of geisha and courtesans are often mislabeled. For those unfamiliar with subtleties in the styling and wear of kimono, obi, and...
Becky FifieldNov 21, 20132 minGeorge Frideric Handel and The London Foundling HospitalGeorge Fredrich Handel. Public Domain. The Messiah, written by George Frideric Handel in 1741 and first performed in Dublin before its...
Becky FifieldDec 17, 20122 minMuseum Monday: Beethoven’s BirthplaceHas anyone else been outraged by the clips on WNYC when they ask people on the street “Who is Beethoven?” followed by soundbites of...
Becky FifieldNov 30, 20122 minNew York at NightRL Fifield. 2008. It’s something about the light of shops shining out onto the sidewalks, people wrapped in coats, the tall buildings...
Becky FifieldSep 9, 20122 minGeisha and Maiko – Japanese Classical DanceRL Fifield performing Botan with Ichifujikai in 2006. My height earned me male roles, along with accompanying tummy padding under my...
Becky FifieldAug 25, 20121 minThe Geisha Toye as a Vendor of PoemsThis woodblock print in the Metropolitan Museum of Art depicts The Geisha Toye as a Vendor of Poems, and dates to c. 1795. Geisha were...
Becky FifieldAug 23, 20121 minTime for a Song: Women Should Their Time DivideThis finger-wag at women about appropriately dividing their time between pleasure and work is fun to sing. Interesting that work is...
Becky FifieldAug 9, 20121 minFeeling Swank: The Green Mill, ChicagoSwank at The Green Mill. RL Fifield 2012. During our recent trip to see Jeremy W.(of Le Cafe Witteveen) and Tina S. in their Chicago...
Becky FifieldJul 17, 20121 minTransit Tuesday: Subway, Sesame Street StyleNothing underlines the fact that Sesame Street is a New York product like this 1974 clip “Subway.” It’s a bit discordant and urban,...
Becky FifieldMay 12, 20123 minIro Iro: My Brief Moment as a Japanese Classical DancerKimono? White makeup? Shamisen music? In New York City? I spent a few years as part of a semi-professional kabuki dance troupe here, as a...
Becky FifieldApr 13, 20121 minIt’s Friday! Do “The Baltimore”While I think the city of Baltimore had little to do with inspiring the creation of this dance tune by Fred Rich and the Hotel Astor...
Becky FifieldApr 13, 20121 minIt’s Friday! Do “The Baltimore”While I think the city of Baltimore had little to do with inspiring the creation of this dance tune by Fred Rich and the Hotel Astor...