For me this piece breaks new ground. It's not purely furniture, but it's not quite sculpture. It's not an antique reproduction, but you might think so if you don't look closely enough. It is intended to be sexy, humorous, and thoroughly modern in its celebration of dance, but the form is rooted … in furniture tradition (queen anne with a twist) and the finish is copied from an original Chippendale breakfront in the Winterthur Museum. I love it when the casual observer perceives it as a traditional piece, and then suddenly discovers its real form.

The finish has 15 layers including 7 layers of stain alternating with 8 clear lacquer coats to create the deep prism-like presentation of wood grain, and 6 polishing operations. The 24 karat gold on the table top is applied in the traditional water guild technique with rabbit skin glue over gesso and burnished with agate, while the pointe shoes are oil gilded and glazed with Japan colors in the deep folds.

The piece has won acceptance into the prestigious American Juried Art Salon's 2010 Spring/Summer show (an international arts competition), and a Blue Ribbon Award from the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.

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