Artistic expression of movement comes alive through life-long passion for dance
MG is a stunning collection of images showcasing ballet and jazz veteran Marjorie Goodson set against landmarks throughout Los Angeles. The photographs, by Andreea Radutoiu, reveal Goodson, 54, as a sensual, fit woman who uses her body to create visual and physical art. The limited-edition book, which includes 153 images rich in texture and tone, will be available in select bookstores and all major book e-tailers.
“I’ve had a love affair with dance as long as I can remember,” says Goodson, who spent nearly three years working on the project and getting her body back to its dancer form. “(Dancing) is my need, my want, my strength, my desire, my energy, my pleasure and my pain. It is my purpose and my passion and it feeds my soul.”
Goodson’s physique, achieved through years of practice, diet and daily exercise, show a middle-aged woman in her prime: physically, mentally and spiritually. It was that achievement that inspired MG – a collection of gritty, sensual and playful dance images that reveal Goodson’s provocative and daring nature as an artist.
“I’ve always felt that to examine and create art you have to be ready to leave the safety of your sand box and explore the outer edges of creativity,” Goodson says.
Weaving edgy, raw and dramatic concepts into classical and contemporary movement, MG not only pushes the creative envelope but also breaks down stigmas and taboos, adhering to the notion that one’s passion, empowerment and self-esteem are accessible at any age.
“One thing I’ve learned from years of creating, performing and collecting art is that passion can’t be diminished or destroyed,” Goodson says. “For me, it’s always been a very deep pull and emotional connection.”
To achieve the artistry of MG, Goodson worked closely with her photographer, Andreea Radutoiu, and her hair and makeup stylist, Torsten Witte. Together they helped produce gallery-worthy images using Los Angeles as a backdrop
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“We wanted locations that were architectural, gritty and edgy, and graphically stark and clean like their studio shots. Incorporating earthy and textural elements like the beaches, water, rocks and sand was necessary for visual balance,” Goodson says.
The life-long dancer discovered the passion as a child and has pursued it to this day, even as a mother of daughter Hannah, whose departure for college inspired Goodson to focus on her own life. She hopes the book convinces like-age and minded readers to embrace and fulfill their own lives, needs and desires. In Goodson’s case, through movement and dance.
“All in, not all over,” says Goodson.
About the author: Marjorie Goodson, a New York native, began dancing at the age of eight at the prestigious School of American Ballet, sparking an enduring love of ballet that would fuel her for the rest of her life. Raised around the television industry by her father, Mark Goodson, famed game show producer of such shows as Family Feud and The Price is Right, Goodson moved to California in her 20s to pursue a career in acting and dancing. In 1986, she joined forces with Alex Trebek on her father’s game show Classic Concentration and remained there for the next five and a half years. In 1993, with the birth of her first child, Hannah, Goodson decided to postpone a career in television for a career as a mother. Her passion for dance never diminished. Follow Goodson on Instagram and Twitter.
Goodson’s most recent philanthropy work includes Georgetown University, the Amanda Foundation, the Maple Counseling Center, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the Music Center, and the Barak Ballet, where she is a founding member. She lives in Los Angeles.
About the photographer: Andreea Radutoiu was born in Romania and moved to the United States in her teens in the midst of the Romanian revolution. Released from the constraints of travel prohibitions, she modeled in Paris, London, New York and Tokyo and then became a photographer. Her work has appeared in publications such as Elle, Esquire, and The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Los Angeles.
About the publisher: RosettaBooks is a leading independent trade publisher headquartered in New York City. The company launched in 2001 with a list of 100 preeminent digital backlist titles. Today the company’s 800-plus title list includes classic eBooks of every category, as well as an original line of frontlist nonfiction books. RosettaBooks’ prominent author collections include 100 works by M.C. Beaton, 52 works by Winston Churchill, 35 works by Arthur C. Clarke, 20 works by Kurt Vonnegut, 12 works by Stephen R. Covey, and 18 works by Robert Graves. In addition, Rosetta Books publishes eBook lines in collaboration with AARP, Harvard Health Publications, Mayo Clinic, and the Associated Press.
