Winter Perfomances

Ballet for me is more than exercise. More than attention and fame. Ballet is a piece of me that I could never let go. Getting ready for winter performances. Slipping on leg warmers while chatting and trading with friends. Finding a shrug that matches, and freezing as you take off your jeans. Slipping on one worn out shoe after another and stretching your “never perfect enough” arches. Picking out your specific place at “your” barre. Working on plies and relevés. Then moving on to developpés. Back to the bar, and both hands on it. You move your leg higher and higher than before. Past your nose. Then, you let go with the right hand and move it to third position. A tiny wiggle, but you keep your leg strong. You take the left hand, and move it slightly. A little more of a wiggle, but, you still stay strong. You get both hands to third, with your back straight, and no bent knees. You bring your leg to the side, still above your ear. And with a détourné bring it to arabesque with arms in fourth. You bring the leg down slowly. After enough warm-ups at the barre, you move it to the side of the room, and prepare to do a single, then double Piqué turn, bring your leg out and do four fouettés, then a soutenu and repeat, but with an arabesque at the end. Then clapping at the end of warm ups. The instructor gives instructions on how to wait before going on stage, how to hang the costumes, and where the head pieces are. The show starts within an hour, and the doors are about to open. We all go our different ways to touch up make up and hair. By the time the auditorium is nearly full, every one is ready for their first dance, and are peeking out to see if their family has arrived. The music starts, the curtains open. You are out in the lights, you can barely see the crowd, the sweat is already dripping. The music is deafening and the crowd’s clapping makes your heart pound more than ever. They all have their eyes on you. You start the dance you have been working on for months now. Making sure you smile. You are one with the music, one with the stage, one with the lights, and one with the dance. You finish your dance and walk to the front. A smile of relief as you curtsy spreads across your face. You run off stage to get dressed for your next dance.