Ballet
Hello friends, I hope everyone enjoyed a pleasant weekend. I’ve mentioned before that as a young girl I wanted to learn ballet. The grace and strength of a ballerina was always fascinating to me. I would daydream of floating on air as I sprung into a Grande Jeté, or rising to the perfect En Pointe. There is so much grace and strength displayed as a ballerina moves across the stage on the tips of her toes.
Unfortunately, ballet class wasn’t an expense my Father would allow. After school activities needed to be of an academic nature. But that didn’t stop me from dreaming and watching performances on the television.
I’ve seen “The Nutcracker” and a production of “Romeo and Juliet” performed by a traveling ballet troupe. I remember applauding the execution of a perfect pirouette. It is one of the most difficult ballet moves. It can take years for a ballerina to execute the perfect pirouette. It requires a great deal of strength, balance, and technique.
My sweet hubby took me to see a performance of “The Story of Dance” by Ballet West, a local dance troupe. It is filled with elegant and extraordinary artists. I smiled so much my cheeks hurt.
As we left the theater a few of the dancers had gathered by the refreshment lounge, they were all still in their costumes and makeup. My hubby encouraged me to speak to them, he nudged me and said, “you know you want to”. I did! I praised them, and thanked them, and well… I cried. Not sobbed just “sweaty eyes” It was all so magical.
The truth is, when I look back, I wonder if I could have been a successful dancer, a “real ballerina”. I was tall and very thin, but I was a bit clumsy (I still am). It may have allowed me to enjoy other dancing as well.
I recently received this beautiful framed print of an original watercolor created by Amiee Del Valle, from the lovely people at Photowall.com. Amiee is a British watercolor artist. She was involved in theatre and dance, and her drawings and paintings often reflected her love of ballet.
To read the product review of this beautiful framed print please click HERE. To see more of Photowall.com ballet prints please click HERE. Photowall.com has an amazing selection of prints, canvas’ and wallpaper murals.
Do you love ballet?
Did you learn ballet
Do you have a ballet story? Please share in the comments.
I look forward to seeing you at the TFT party on Thursday.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway “May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He let His grace shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-6:26 NIV
That is a beautiful painting and it sound like you had a great date with your husband. Do you know if there are any adult beginner classes near you? Some studios do them and it might me a good way to get a taste of the ballerina life.
My mum put me in ballet, tap, and jazz class when I was about five and I’m still doing them twenty years later. I’m atrocious. I’m only now getting into the splits and I can’t balance to save my life. However, I find it enjoyable and think it’s a hundred times better than going to a gym.
I vote for ballet over the gymnasium!!! I think it’s wonderful that you still enjoy it. Thank you for suggesting the adult classes. Big hugs from across the pond!
I loved this post, Katherine! I’ve always loved ballet and took it for several years as a child. Then,when I was in my early 20s, my sister and I took an adult ballet class. The teacher was renowned in St. Louis, and he didn’t believe in air conditioning in his studio! We were so hot (and exhausted! ) Then, a few years ago, my daughter and I took an adult ballet class together. Whew, now that was REALLY exhausting! Ballet is such a good workout. Just the last couple of days, I’ve been looking for a barre workout class for older ladies but no luck so far, so I may have to do an online one. Also, I love that print SO MUCH! You have been tempting me with your beautiful finds for your walls. xo
Hi Pam! How wonderful that you and your sister enjoyed ballet in an adult class, and with a well-known teacher as well. I wish I had known my sister then.
Surely you are just as graceful now my friends. I found a fun workout for you I’ll send you the link. Biggest hugs!
You asked, Katherine! LOL!
I first put my daughter in ballet when she was 11 years old… to help with her awful slouching posture. She was a soccer player at the time, and was not thrilled about starting ballet. I told her, “Just one year, and then you can quit”. She took her first class, and never looked back!
When we saw the Nutcracker for the first time in person that year, she looked at me and said, “I’m going to be in the Nutcracker one day.” I just said, “Oh, that’s wonderful, sweetie-girl”, thinking those were awful big dreams for my little soccer goalie.
The next season, she opted out of soccer and put herself fully into ballet… practicing at home until she got every step perfect for the next class.
Her first Nutcracker performance… the following year!, she was in the Arabian Corps, at the front of the line because she was so tiny… 5′ nothin’ when she stood in first position (shorter when she relaxed). There were many more rolls after that, including Candy Cane lead (she’s a strong athletic dancer, with a gift for choreography).
By the time she was 14, she was teaching worship ballet from our home, only charging 1/2 of a regular studio fee, but making enough money to buy her first car with cash when she was 16. (I was/am a single-again-mom and was thankful for the Lord’s provision in giving her a career that she loved at such an early age.)
The teacher of her studio has been honing my daughter to take over the studio when she retires, as the owner herself has no daughters. Nika has been the assistant director at her studio now for almost 10 years! She hopes to one day be the owner and director of BethEl Ballet here in So Cal. 🙂
Oh, and her posture… it’s still awful! Unless she’s in first position! 😉
Let me know if you want to see some videos… or take a look at BethEl Ballet’s FB page! 😉 She’s the tiny one in the front… most of the time!
Oh my gosh, how wonderful!!!!! Thank you soo very much for sharing this with me Julie. What a joy it is to learn your daughter’s passion is now a career. You must be so proud of her. Of course, I would love to see her perform! I’ll check out the videos this weekend. Biggest hugs coming your way!
Lovely story, Katherine. I’m sorry you never got to fulfill your childhood dream. It is something that was actually a HUGE part of my life. I was a semi-professional ballet dancer in our state’s official ballet company for 17 years, even dancing while pregnant with both my daughters who, in their own talent, became ballet dancers as well. Although it was never my vocation (nor my daughters’), it was an avocation that enriched my life in so many ways, not the least of which was providing me a stress relieving outlet for a very hectic life of full-time work, part-time graduate studies, and mom of two! Looking back, I’m not sure how I did it all, but it’s part of the fabric of who I am today. By the way, most studios offer adult beginner classes, so it’s never too late, even for those with disabilities!
Rita thank you so much for sharing. How wonderful it must have been to dance and jump and grand jete’ and all of the other wonderful ballet words ( giggle), even when pregnant. I would have loved to see you dance. Bless your heart for the disability nudge. It never even occurred to me that they would have ballet classes for someone in my circumstance. Thank you, so much for that. I know we get older and wonder how we managed to do all that we did. After the divorce from my first husband I was a single mom for a long time and working a full-time job, a part-time job, and another part-time job from home. But I still managed to get her to ballet class, gymnastics, cheerleading and all of the other fun things. I am grateful for the time you spent to leave such a lovely comment. Bug hugs!
I always wanted to take ballet classes, but my mom took dance classes as a kid and hated them. So, she was hesitant to sign me up. My kids though took when they were little and then ended up not wanting to take anymore either. So, I guess I like you just live through watching other perform. Hugs and hope you are having a wonderful week so far xoxo <3
Hello sweet friend, I think you would have been a beautiful ballerina. xo
I took ballet as a child. In fact took ballet, and tap. I went for about 3 – 4 years, but…I was “hefty” as a child and really could do a lot though my dream was to dance on my toes. I watched all kinds of things ballet on tv and such. But because of my weight I never really went far. Enjoyed it though! When my daughter came along, I put her in ballet as a child for a few years. But it really wasn’t her cup of tea. But she did enjoy going and seeing her friends. Thanks for bringing these memories back. Very heartwarming in times like these.
Veralynne, thank you so very much for sharing. My daughter took ballet for a couple of years too. To be perfectly honest, I think she liked the costumes more than the dancing ( wink) everyone feels special in a pink tutu. Hugs!