Ernestine Pastorello

Ernestine the Expat: The Beginning

Sunday, 19 January 2020, 11:54
A bedroom
Paris, France

Well, this, I suppose, is it.

The beginning.
Before leaving the US, I set myself the task of blogging everything I possibly could once I left, keeping in mind that (a) my sweet fan base misses me and is excited for me and wants updates; and (b) I know that time is going to fly by during this period of my life, and I want to be able to look back at this terrifying, beautiful, dreamy, long-anticipated, terrifying, etc.,...

Tales of a Traveling Strumpet.

Friends!

When I left the US, I was given the very good advice to write a lot about everything that happened, as such a moment was unlikely to recur ever again in my life. I took this advice to heart, and I have been writing a lot lately, documenting this drop-kicking of my life across an ocean to an unfamiliar clime.

I have been meaning to post these reflections here, but have not yet had time. But today I do!

So, I shall be releasing them retroactively, which is kind of fun...

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "Per Lombardia"

In this video, #7 in my "dancing from my bedroom" series, I attempt to process through art the horrors transpiring in Italy and the incredible heroism we are seeing there. 

This piece was inspired by a New York Times article (link below) that absolutely blew me away. It is one thing to hear the news reports as one goes about one's day; it is another entirely to see extraordinary photo journalism, with images of people ill and dying in their homes, overwhelmed hospitals, funeral hom...

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "Everything That Defies Reason Makes Sense Now"

Installation #7 in my "dancing from my bedroom" series! 

This week, I found a bigger ladder, tried not to fall off it (I succeeded, please don't be alarmed), and made the camera jiggle with aggressive bourée.   

In times of hardship and downright insanity, it is the job of artists to keep the soul fed. If I can do that for any single one of you humans out there, I am content.  

If you're freeloading these videos and you can afford to, become a patron! 2020-03-31 21:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Special patron video! Ballet warm-up

Hiya Patrons!

I hope you still feel appropriately special, even though I am releasing a lot of my weekly-video madness to the masses!

And I hope even more that you are safe and well.

This video is a special treat for all of you, and it shows how I warm up to improvise on a ladder in pointe shoes!

Including!...

-Foot warm-up

-Plié

-Rond des jambes

-Stretch

-Putting on pointe shoes

-Spraying down my pointe shoes with water so I have e...

Ernestine Under Quarantine, Week #2! Ernestine chats about this week's videos

Introducing week 2 of daily videos from quarantine! 

In this video I discuss: 

--The update from Berlin 

--An article about Lombardia that knocked me on my ass 2020-03-30 20:05:23 +0000 UTC View Post

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "Hooked, and She Won't Let Me Go"

Thank god this ladder is sturdy. It's not like I checked it before I started improvising. (Classic.)  But this is the magic of improv. You don't just sit in a studio and imagine climbing inside a ladder. It only happens when the transcendental combination of music and spirit pushes you in there. And then a bit of aluminum becomes a metaphor for your whole life.

Installment #6 of the dancing-in-my-bedroom series.

I'm making these videos free to all, but as a sex worker, Patreo...

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "Escapism"

Ernestine gets cabin fever and the ladder becomes the perfect metaphor...  

This is installment #5 of my "daily quarantine dancing-in-the-bedroom" videos.  

I'm making these videos free to all, but as a sex worker, Patreon is my only current income. Want to support what I do, while I make the best of complete economic freefall?   

Become a patron! 

As a patron, you'll get to see these videos before the rest of the world, and also have access to...

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "Love in a Foreign Language"

A deeper reflection still as I dive deeper into what's down in there in my marrow right now.  

It is my intention with this daily filming to delve into all aspects of what we all face. For me, there is an additional bite as the stillness and slowness of our new world causes me to think more and more of what I left behind and what has not yet been fully mourned.  

This is installment #4 of my "daily quarantine video" series.  

I'm making these videos free to al...

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "The Lovers We All Miss"

This video is a deeper reflection.

It is my intention with this daily filming to delve into all aspects of what we all face. For me, there is an additional bite as the stillness and slowness of our new world causes me to think more and more of what I left behind and what has not yet been fully mourned.

I think we all have people who are not in our lives right now, for whatever reason; this offering is for them.

This is installment #3 of my "daily quarantine video" series. 2020-03-25 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "This Day Will Not Devour Me"

In times of uncertainty and trouble, it is the job of artists to uplift and sustain.

Hence, facing the great uncertainty of "what to do?!?" in such circumstances, I have decided to post daily or almost-daily videos of me dancing from my beautiful, sunlit bedroom in Berlin.

This is installment #2.

I'm making these videos free to all, but as a sex worker, Patreon is my only current income. Want to support what I do, while I make the best of complete economic freef...

Ernestine Under Quarantine: "Conquering the Ladder"

In times of uncertainty and trouble, it is the job of artists to uplift and sustain.

Hence, facing the great uncertainty of "what to do?!?" in such circumstances, I have decided to post daily or almost-daily videos of me dancing from my beautiful, sunlit bedroom in Berlin.

This is installment #1.

While I value my patrons more than life itself--you are all SO near and dear to my heart, you have no idea--I have chosen to make these videos available to all. (Don't worry, there ...

Introducing The DancerWhore's Quarantine Project!!!

Hello everyone! 

Introducing Ernestine Under Lockdown! 

The city of Berlin has not been locked down yet, but it is imminent. 

As a person who earns her living from intimate contact with other people, I was horrified as it dawned on me what is happening. I essentially have no job until this thing is over, even though I am officially a registered prostitute in Germany, which was no small feat! 

So, as I thought about how I'm going to fill my days, the...

The DancerWhore's Quarantine Manifesto

16 March, 2020

Movenpick Hotel

Potsdamer Platz

Dear friends, 

I have been languishing in a hotel room for six hours. One client cancelled. Then the next. 

I love these Berlin gents, but they are--on a good day--about 30% unreliable, and in the era of Covid-19, apparently 100%.

In a tremendous swath of lucky events, I got my "tanzerin, modell" visa on Thursday, after waiting 11 hours from 5am in the cold. I was one of the last allowed in...

Improvisation: "The Contemplation"

A raw, deep dive into my body via introspective improvisation. 

Enjoy! 

Fondly, 

Ernestine

My Wonderful Patrons! Would you like a treat?

I am gearing up for some *fun new things* for y'all in the coming weeks...

...but as a teaser...

...and because you all mean so much to me...

Would you like a postcard from Berlin???

Yes???

Send me your address! And, if I already have it, send me a note! Tell me how you're doing! Tell me how you're enjoying the Ballet Burlesque Project! (For those of you who require discretion, let's talk about alternatives.)

But wait. More???

Yes,...

Improvisation: Contemporary Ballet--"I Dreamt I Was in Ballet Class...And You Were There"

This is my first improvisation that (to me) does not look like it was improvised, but rather choreographed and rehearsed, so sort of the holy grail there. Quite pleased!!!

It is also 100% contemporary ballet.  I blame this incredible music. 

Please enjoy. 

Fondly, 

Ernestine

Survival in Berlin: The Future of the Ballet Burlesque Project

Friends! 

Here I am! I made it across the ocean, to Berlin!  

This video is about what I really need from my supporters right now and how you can radically change my reality for a few dollars a month.  

The Ballet Burlesque Project has not yet broken even. I have been paying my film editor out of other income, but now, in a new, foreign country, starting over, I can't afford to do that anymore, so there is a lot of beautiful footage that he and I c...