Two years ago,
at the beginning
of the fourth decade of my life,
and having taken ballet
on and off
for about a decade,
I decided that I wanted to attempt
to go en pointe by my next birthday.
Mind you, I struggle with remembering:
1) the French ballet terms;
2) the warm up lessons
after the fourth or fifth exercise;
3) any ballet combinations that
require more than two parts;
4) not letting my other activities
interfere with going to ballet class;
5) and, basic proper alignment
for ballet dancers.
However, I set the challenge for myself
and attempted to attend
more than my usual one class per week.
Also, I was encouraged by
one of my children's ballet teachers,
who is also a parent
of one of their ballet friends,
who is an extraordinary ballet costumer,
and, a great friend.
She gave me specific exercises
to strengthen my feet
and
reminded me to use my core muscles.
Just before the end of the calendar year,
one of my friends that had been taking
ballet classes said that she had gotten
permission to start en pointe
in January, just around my birthday.
So, I went out and purchased pointe shoes
at the beginning of January.
And then, just as it looked like I would be
en pointe by my birthday,
a snow storm hit
and
closed down everything
for almost a week.
So, after sewing on my pointe shoe ribbons,
which I was supposed to have waited to do
after the teacher had approved
the first pointe shoes,
I got to go en pointe at the barre
just a few days after my birthday.
I would love to say that I improved
over the next year,
but I was unable to get in my
pointe shoes on a regular basis
and remained doing barre work.
In order to improve en pointe,
this January, as part of my make-up
classes for all the classes I missed
in the fall due to other activities,
meetings, Nutcracker duties
in the costume room and props,
I decided to take the class
for students (around 11 years)
who were about to start
en pointe for the first time.
Today,
after my fourth pointe class
this year,
I went en pointe
in the middle of the floor.
It wasn't pretty,
but I did manage at least
three times
to go on full pointe.
I only wish my children
had witnessed it
because at least one
of them seems
to be a little doubtful.
Oh, well, I know I put my
fear of falling behind me.
En Pointe!
at the beginning
of the fourth decade of my life,
and having taken ballet
on and off
for about a decade,
I decided that I wanted to attempt
to go en pointe by my next birthday.
Mind you, I struggle with remembering:
1) the French ballet terms;
2) the warm up lessons
after the fourth or fifth exercise;
3) any ballet combinations that
require more than two parts;
4) not letting my other activities
interfere with going to ballet class;
5) and, basic proper alignment
for ballet dancers.
However, I set the challenge for myself
and attempted to attend
more than my usual one class per week.
Also, I was encouraged by
one of my children's ballet teachers,
who is also a parent
of one of their ballet friends,
who is an extraordinary ballet costumer,
and, a great friend.
She gave me specific exercises
to strengthen my feet
and
reminded me to use my core muscles.
Just before the end of the calendar year,
one of my friends that had been taking
ballet classes said that she had gotten
permission to start en pointe
in January, just around my birthday.
So, I went out and purchased pointe shoes
at the beginning of January.
And then, just as it looked like I would be
en pointe by my birthday,
a snow storm hit
and
closed down everything
for almost a week.
So, after sewing on my pointe shoe ribbons,
which I was supposed to have waited to do
after the teacher had approved
the first pointe shoes,
I got to go en pointe at the barre
just a few days after my birthday.
I would love to say that I improved
over the next year,
but I was unable to get in my
pointe shoes on a regular basis
and remained doing barre work.
In order to improve en pointe,
this January, as part of my make-up
classes for all the classes I missed
in the fall due to other activities,
meetings, Nutcracker duties
in the costume room and props,
I decided to take the class
for students (around 11 years)
who were about to start
en pointe for the first time.
Today,
after my fourth pointe class
this year,
I went en pointe
in the middle of the floor.
It wasn't pretty,
but I did manage at least
three times
to go on full pointe.
I only wish my children
had witnessed it
because at least one
of them seems
to be a little doubtful.
Oh, well, I know I put my
fear of falling behind me.
En Pointe!
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