Family Vacation from Ballet

For the first time in five years,

our family took

an extended family vacation

during a season of ballet.

While the kids

had ten (10) days

of no ballet,

a costume project

did make it into the car.

On the first day of vacation,

five hours of the twelve hour drive-

in between navigation duties- 

were spent taking off beads

from a couple of costumes

in order to reuse some

 of them in the beading rework

for the costumes.

My husband patiently helped remove

the remaining beads

while sitting

at Nutcracker rehearsal

the day after returning from vacation.

My son had thought

that he would have time

to do some stretching exercises

during vacation.

Alas,

this was a twelve hour a day,

go all day at full steam

vacation.

Of the six days

at Disney World, Florida-

two days were spent at EPCOT;

a midnight swim

and getting up very early

the next morning;

two days at Magic Kingdom;

a day in torrential rains

and at Downtown Disney;

a half of day of packing

and leaving.

Then a quick trip to put our feet

in the Atlantic Ocean

before continuing on toward

Savannah, Georgia.

A day in Savannah

included a Girl Scout Pilgrimage

to Juliette Gordon Low's Birthplace

and the Birthplace of Girl Scouts

in order to celebrate

100 years of Girl Scouts USA

and ten years of my daughter

being a Girl Scout,

as well as, my ten years

as a Girl Scout Leader.

A day in Atlanta

included the High Museum of Art

and a quick drive around

the Capitol building.

(On the way to Disney World,

there was a quick stop around

the Capitol building

in Tallahassee, Florida.)

The only ballet that was done

during this trip was a quick,

and a little reluctant,

pose in the Canadian area

at EPCOT

for our ballet family friends

who live in our hometown

but are originally from Canada.

(They gave us great advise from

their Disney World experiences.)

It has been a month since

we started out on our vacation;

reality is just now starting

to impose on my

vacation euphoria-

there is soooo much

to get done before

Nutcracker performances.

Family Memories

made outside of ballet,

imagine that....

Costume Department Pressures

As my last post indicated,
we have been spending many hours
at the ballet studio.

The costume department
started to get anxious last week
about having everything ready
for the board photo session
next week.

When the call went out for help,
many answered and the work
is getting done in a very
timely manner.

In the last couple of weeks,
I have been busy with several
different "detail" sewing projects:

1) Sewing sequins on a tutu-
not my favorite task
because they are very small,
round, curved, and shiny;
and, they only have one hole
to sew through them.
(They really should have
two holes, like a button.)

2) Sewing trim on various costumes.

3) Removing trim on various costumes-
yes, sometimes the trim that
was just sewn onto the costume
must be removed and redone
because the costume needs to be
re-altered for a better fit,
or the trim was sewn
onto the costume inside out,
or it was not sewn onto
the perfect spot.

3) Shopping for thread, ruffles, ribbons, etc.

and

4) Sewing on ruffles, ribbons, and more trim.

And, the work goes on, and on, and on....

Note: Attempts are being made
to take "before and after" photos
of my various sewing projects.

Hours at the Ballet Studio

When asking my teenagers
the other day
what my next topic should be,
they said,
"The hours we spend
at the ballet studio."

My last blog started out
with this topic in mind
and ended up being about
free pizza!

The original intent of the post
was to talk about the number
of hours our family spends
at the ballet studio each week
and
what we do during that time.

So, here goes.

Mondays:

Usually it is just my daughter and I
that travel to the studio.

She has two and a half hours
of classes and
I help out in the office;
this means we are there
for about four hours.

Occasionally, my son skips his
weekly Boy Scout meeting
in order to attend special
partnering classes
and/or
rehearsals.

Tuesdays:

Three of us have dance classes
and we are there for about
four to five hours,
more if there are rehearsals.

Sometimes, my son
has a morning rehearsal
(which he is able to attend
because he homeschools);
on those days,
we either spend the hours
between returning to the studio
on school errands
or
stay at the studio
and work on school work.

Wednesday:

Usually it is just my son and I
that travel to the studio.

Between the two of us,
we are there for about five hours.

Occasionally, my daughter comes
for make-up classes or rehearsals.

Thursdays:

A very busy day of the week.

Three of us have classes
and I also help in the office.

At least two nights per month,
I have to skip my classes
in order to attend meetings-
one for Girl Scout planning
(which my daughter
usually attends too)
and
one for my GFWC local club.

Total hours at the studio
are around four or so.

Fridays:

We like to say that
we have Fridays off.

However, more often than not,
this is not true.

If the Friday afternoon class
is not canceled, then
my son and often my daughter
attend the class.

Often, there is a rehearsal afterwards.

Recently, about every other Friday,
our family has traveled
about two hours away for ballet classes
from a former Soviet ballet dancer.

So, Fridays, too,
are often up to four hours
at the studio.

Saturdays:

Our whole family, my husband included,
spends about eight hours at the studio.

My son and daughter have company class
and rehearsals that last all day;
though they do have breaks,
they are rarely long enough to leave.

My husband and I run errands
for food and props and costumes
and/or
stay at the studio and work
on props and costumes.

Sundays:

Rehearsals last up to six hours,
especially the closer it gets
to performances.

Of course, the whole family
is usually there
(see Saturdays).

Week in Review:

If I counted correctly,
our family spends just under
40 hours per week
at the ballet studio.

Is that a full time job-
minus the pay and benefits?

Free Pizza

Over the past few weeks,
our family has realized that
we are spending
more and more time
at the ballet studio.

This should come as no surprise
since we are in the midst
of rehearsals
and preparations
of props and costumes
for the spring performances.

However, this is the first time that
we recall having more rehearsals
after dance and ballet classes.

So, after up to three or four hours
of classes on the weeknights,
we are at the studio
for up to another couple of hours.

The other night,
this was to our benefit,
in that we got free food.

We had left the studio
just before 9:30 pm
and thought that
the pizza place
stopped serving around
that time.

The lights were still on,
but they were starting to clean.

The manager was on the phone
with his bosses
before he was able to talk to us.

He explained that the buffet
was closed for the night,
but we already knew that
we wanted to get some
pizzas to go.

He took our order,
the kitchen staff started baking,
and I started to pay
with my debit card.

Then, the manager realized that
he had already shut the computer
down for the night.

As, I had no cash,
he offered us our pizzas
for free!

He even gave us free drinks
while we waited.

It is so nice to know that
there are still good people
in this world,
especially when one is
near exhaustion
and have two teenagers
to feed after hours
of dancing.

En Pointe

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!

Ballet Moms vs Dance Moms

After explaining to my daughter,

when she wanted to purchase
a sparkly key chain with
"Dance Mom"
on it for me,

that I am in no way, shape, nor form
a "Dance Mom,"

I still had to have the manager of the
ballet/dance clothing store
back me up on this point.

And, this all occurred months before
the Lifetime show, "Dance Moms."

Now that the show is so popular,
even among the "Ballet Moms,"
there apparently needs to be a
"vs" list in order to distinguish
between the two types of personalities.

Normally, I am not one to generalize,
but these are just some observations-
and I do realize
that there are always exceptions.


Dance Mom vs Ballet Mom


1) Obnoxiously Loud vs Quiet and Observant

While "Quiet and Observant,"
we are willing to stand up for what is right-
we are still "Moms," after all.


2) Fighting vs Discussions

with the Dance and/or Artistic Director

Face it,
at the end of the day,
in ballet,
the Artistic Director,
being artistic
and having many years
of experience
in the ballet world,
is always right,
whether one agrees or disagrees.

One must always remember
that the ballet world
is a very small world;
burning one's bridges
is not a good thing,
especially for the dancers.


3) Fighting vs Discussions
with other "Moms"

Most of my "Mom" friends
encourage each others
dancers with both
words of advice and praise.

If things start to get too personal,
usually at least one will walk away,
if not both parties,
until heads have cooled
and until that happens,
avoidance is a useful tool.


4) Skimpy costumes vs ballet costumes

Realizing that ballet wear for class
is just a leotard and tights,
in order for teachers to see that
proper alignment is occurring,
most ballet studios require
that clothing be worn over the ballet wear
whenever outside the studio.

Another rule about ballet costumes
is that costumes remain backstage
or covered when not on stage.

Costumes are meant to enhance
the character of the dancer and the dance;
they are not to be a character itself.


5) Competitions vs Shows

Although there are a few ballet competitions,
meant to find talent,
most are closed to observers.

Most ballet companies perform
two or three
shows or stories
per year
and
most of the year
is dedicated to rehearsals.


6) Recitals vs School Shows

Although many ballet studios
have other types of dance as well,

the end of the school year
performance is considered
a "school show" and the word
"recital" is very reluctantly used.


7) New vs Traditional

Ballet has a long history and tradition.

Many in ballet are proud of this fact.

10 Years of Nutcracker

Our family just finished our
10th
Nutcracker.

It was the first Nutcracker
that no one was
in Act I.

This was a very odd feeling.

I never even got to watch Act I
from backstage
because either
I was helping with last minute
sewing projects
(mending, buttons, shoe elastics, etc)
or
helping my daughter
with her hair and make-up.

It was really the first year
that I understood
one of the other mother's advice
to trade daughters
during dressing room preparations.

My daughters hair is very thick
and this year it was shorter
because she had donated
some of the length to
Locks of Love
during the summer.

Due to the thickness,
I always braid her hair
into several small braids
in order to make the bun
look flatter.

Just before performance,
we thought that the hair was fine
until we tried putting
the headpiece on her head
and found that the bun was too high.

We tried moving the bun lower,
but it messed up the rest of her hair
and
she could not get the bun to feel secure.

After taking out the braids
and while re-brushing her hair
and trying to find the perfect spot
for the bun after several attempts,
a sudden feeling came over me
that I needed to just pull her hair
off her head and make it a wig
with a permanent bun.

There was no feeling of wanting
to hurt my daughter-
just wanting do something
that would make the whole
bun process easier.

Finally,
the perfect spot for the bun;
and,
I was able to make a great bun
without having to re-braid her hair.

So,
even if one has a good relationship
with family members,
during stressful times backstage,
have a third party help.

A couple of things
that I enjoyed this year:

1) watching my daughter help my son
put on his make-up;

and 2) my son occasionally asking me
to help make sure that
his hair, costume, and make-up
were ready for stage.

(Although he's not thrilled
with the way that I like his hair
to be on stage,
he was good about asking
if it was done to my liking.)

The best part of
10 years of Nutcracker
is that it is
a family activity.

Nutcracker Backstage Version

One of the fun things about Nutcracker is the camaraderie among the backstage helpers.

While sewing costumes, building props, moving into and out of the theatre, and working backstage during a performance, patterns begin to emerge in the way people act and react, often based on their part or their child's part in Nutcracker.

Over the years, a Nutcracker Backstage Version has emerged in our minds.

We have only discussed this version and never really written anything down, so here is my attempt at some of the ideas.

Act I: Scene 1

Backstage Costume Room less than five minutes before performance:

Costumes are being frantically sewn and pinned together at the last minute.

Young ladies with nervous giggles are being sewn into their tutus.

Pointe shoe ribbons and boys' shoe elastics are being sewn at the last minute and blood is being drawn with each stitch.

Party Men are nervously asking how to put the costume together.

And, Party Boys are being wrangled to make sure that their costumes are in order.

Act I: Scene 2

Backstage Wings:

Dancers are jumping up and down to keep warm and fight off nervousness.

Dancers are checking each others' costumes.

Little ones and some Nutcracker veterans are being yelled at by the backstage crew to leave the props alone.

And, there are lots of "shs" being sounded.

Act I: Scene 3

As Clara gets ready to go on stage, her mom is frantically making sure that every curl is in place with more hairspray.

Clara's hair ribbon is getting pinned to her head with cries from her mom of:

"Now don't cry!

I'm sorry!

Yes, I should have used a bobby pin, not a safety pin that was meant for your dress ribbon.

Stop yelling at me!

Smile, it's time for you to go on stage.

Remember to smile..."
(as Clara runs on stage just in time).

Act I: Scene 4

The director is frantically trying to get someone's attention on stage because they forgot to take off their backstage socks that they wear over the ballet shoes.

Note: Socks are worn over the ballet slippers backstage so that wax is not brought on stage, which could make the floor too slippery for the pointe shoe dancers.

Act I: Scene 5

The backstage crew is cursing under their breath because of all the Party props that have to be removed off stage before the Battle begins.

To top it all off, no matter which way they attempt to clear a path for themselves and the props, there are dancers and moms getting in their way at every turn.

Act I: Scene 6

The Snow Scene begins and beautiful dancers run on and off stage between their pieces.

All one can hear is "THUD, THUD, THUD"
(not to the music)
of the pointe shoes on stage

and

the PANTING of the dancers as they try to catch a quick breath before running back on stage.

Intermission:

Parents, family, and friends are flooding backstage to congratulate the dancers and take pictures among the chaos of trying to prepare for Act II.

The little ones are being wrangled to get their costumes off before they try to eat a snack.

Company Ballet Dancers are doing a last minute hair, make-up, and costume check.

Mothers are telling their daughters to go to "So-and-So" because it is easier to deal with another child that is not your own whiny one.

Act II: Scene I

Angel moms are obsessing over the costumes, trying to make sure they are "perfect" before their princesses go on stage.

As the angels go on stage, their moms are trying to take pictures with flashes on their cameras.

Note: Flashes should never be used at a dance performance because it can temporarily blind the dancers.

Note: Flashes going off backstage can often be seen by the audience- a very big "no, no."

Backstage crew is muttering under their breath about "newbies,"
as the angels and their moms take their time to leave the backstage wings and walk where they are not allowed in a possible "audience may see backstage zone."

Act II: Scene 2

Instead of dancers on stage, the moms and some dads in some very gaudy costumes have decided to imitate the dances that they have seen year after year to the same music that they hear year after year.

The dancers are looking very appalled backstage.

Act II: Scene 3

The backstage crew and props people have put police tape around the props as a reminder to not touch.

The Nutcracker has been wrapped in bubble wrap before being returned to Clara on stage because the backstage props crew is tired of repairing it year after year.

A few Party Girls are in tears because the Fritz took their chocolate and other candies and tried to rub it on them.

And, Fritz, well, let's just say he really is in
"Time Out"
(since spankings are no longer allowed in this day and age).

The End!

Nutcracker- My Daughter's Roles

My daughter could not wait
until she was old enough
to be in Nutcracker.

It was three years
after her brother,
(even though she is
two years younger),
that she was able to start
her Nutcracker career
at the age of eight (almost nine).

In 2005,
she was a
Small Mouse,
like her brother
had been.

Due to new choreography,
my daughter had to be told
that she could not teach
the other mice the part;
she was a little disappointed,
but she loved
that she got to steal a prop-
Clara's doll house.

In 2006,
she was a
Small Animated Doll.

She was great
at being motionless
at times
and
was very precise
and mechanical-like
in her movements.

And, she had her
adorable dimples
frozen in her smile.

In 2007,
she finally got to try-out
for Clara.

In the years leading up
to her first Nutcracker,
she would often tell
her ballet teachers
that she wanted to be Clara.

They would remind her
that she had to start
with other roles
and try-out for Clara
when she was old enough
and at the appropriate
ballet level.

However, 2007 was not
her year as Clara,
but she got to be a
Party Girl.

In 2008,
she knew that if she
did not get to be Clara,
she would soon be
too old for the part;
we were elated
when she got the role of
Clara.

Also in 2008,
my husband was finally convinced
to help build some props
(he led the family
in making the doll bed
for the Nutcracker prop,
as well as,
the life-size rolling bed
for the "living" Nutcracker)
and
he began working backstage
during performances.

In 2009,
my daughter got to play
a very mischievous
Mouse.

This time,
all the girls were older
so that they would
look bigger and human size.

Also, in 2009,
my daughter finally got
into the Second Act in the
Arabian Corp.

Most of the girls
had been looking forward
to the choreography
of the Arabian piece,
but it was changed.

My daughter did a great job
of learning and performing
the new piece.

After reviewing
my son's roles,
my daughter's roles,
and the family participation
(props, costumes, backstage)
of all that we did
for Nutcrackers in 2009,
it seems almost a blur
of activity-
but we really enjoyed that year!

In 2010,
my daughter joined Junior Company
and got the role of a
(French) Shepherdess
and danced "en pointe."

Shepherdesses costumes
were reconfigured from the previous
Mirliton costumes
by several volunteers-
It seemed we were always working,
reworking, and reworking some more
on the new Shepherdesses costumes.

During Thanksgiving holidays,
which was the week before
Tech/Dress Rehearsal Week,
I was handed a couple
of costume pictures
and a cardboard mock-up
of a Shepherdess hat.

After many hours spent
reworking the mock-up
and creating and sewing
a sample hat
out of rigid felt
during the Thanksgiving holidays,
I began Tech/Dress Rehearsal
with the goal of nine hats
to be made in a week.

The last couple of days
of Tech/Dress Rehearsal,
several volunteer moms
and dancers,
including some
of the Shepherdesses,
were sewing on the trim
and loops for bobby pins.

There were several
bleeding fingers
in this labor of love
to top off a great costume.

In fact, I was sewing
on the trim for the last hat
during the First Act
of the first performance.

Although a couple
of the girls
put on their hats
at the last minute
and they had to be readjusted
before they went back on stage,
none of them ever fell off.

In 2011,
my daughter was an
Arabian Demi-Soloist
and was in the
Rose Flower Corp.

After several years
of attempted bribes
to get my daughter
into full splits
before the next Nutcracker,
getting a role that required splits
finally encouraged her to finish
getting her splits.

And, this year it was even more fun
to watch the Waltz of the Flowers
with my daughter "en pointe"
and spinning in her skirt
with her beautiful smile.

Seasons of Ballet Details- Spring

"Spring
Spring Performance"

Spring is my favorite season.

Warm weather- not freezing
nor high humidity hot.

As mentioned at the end of the last post, dressing like a princess in a tiara at the Spring Fairy Tale Ballet Performance is a highlight of my year.

Unfortunately, as soon as the Spring Performance is over, there is less than two months until
"Spring
School Performances"

When one has two teenagers that take about six classes a week, then that equals about six to eight costumes.

Our ballet school tries to keep costume cost down by borrowing from the ballet company (for a small fee), finding basic costumes that can be worn to classes, or even having the students use their own wardrobe.

However, coordinating and making sure that the teacher has picked out a costume, especially if it needs to be ordered, purchasing the costume and costume pieces, and making any necessary alterations is often stressful.

Our local ballet and dance clothing stores help make the experience as positive as possible within their power.

Of course, no matter how many lists one makes and questions one asks of the students, a visit to the ballet store will occur a minimum of once a week and daily for the week and a half before performances.

And the number one thing that is purchased at the last minute-
Dance Shoes-
usually due to at least one of the three M's:
Magical foot growth within two months time
Mysterious holes or wear in the shoes
Misplaced footwear (usually on the day before or the day of performance).

Despite all of the stress of multiple costume changes and coordinating portrait times with rehearsal schedules, the best part of School Performances is watching the improvement of the dancers from year to year.

About Behind the Ballet Barre

The intention of this blog is to share my memories and things learned through and about ballet since my son began taking ballet at the age of 4 1/2 in 1999 and my 2 1/2 year old daughter tagged along and begged to be included in the class too.

A few years later, I began taking beginning adult ballet classes.


As the children became more involved in more ballet and dance classes, our time at the dance studio increases and other activities slowly decrease.

After the first several Nutcrackers, I finally convinced my husband that watching from backstage was so much more enjoyable, especially if one is helping; and, now, being at the ballet studio is a family affair- including building props and helping with costumes.

While my son and daughter love performing and helping behind the scenes, my husband and I have no desire to be on stage when the curtain is up.

As my son pursues a career in classical ballet and my daughter applies what she learns in dance to other aspects of her life, my goal is to make sure that we have more than a few memorable "Behind the Ballet Barre" memories.