Death of Ann Reinking

There is a cliche: Major deaths happen in threes. I think that's a cliche? I think I heard that before?

In any case, in recent weeks, the world lost scholar and novelist Alison Lurie. The world lost John le Carre. And the world lost Broadway legend Ann Reinking.

I knew in high school that Ann Reinking was a source of reverence for many people; I knew because of the "Chicago" revival recording. That fabled production won many Tony Awards; Reinking won for her choreography, but, also, she was the star of the show. You'd hear the strange, monstrous character she invented on the recordings for "Roxie" and "Nowadays" and "My Baby and Me."

In high school, I didn't really appreciate dance, but, now, I appreciate it more and more, and I can see why a fan might call Reinking a genius. Watching her clips, I also think of the talent, ambition, and appetite that must have gone into "becoming who she was."

Hooray for the memory of Ann Reinking!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4LZlWGK0nE

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