“Really, what’s the worst that can happen? You fall down.” – Miss Jenna
I must admit, it is rather bizarre that in dance, it’s easier for people (myself included) to perform Italian fouettes than it is for them to smile. We put so much effort into looking beautiful on the outside; we forget about the beauty of our hearts, of our minds and of our souls. Do you think that if we smiled more, those Italian fouettes would be really lovely? Do you believe that if we smiled more, we’d stop being so incredibly uptight? Is there such a world as that? I think…
… yes.
I haven’t taken a full-on jazz class since I was six years old, but Leaps and Turns is dragging the jazz hands right out of me! From soutenus, to four-step pirouettes, to six-step pirouettes, to arabesque turns, to tilt turns, to grand jetes, to calypsos, to Russians, to “Wow, I didn’t even know that move existed.” ALL of these, however, have one, HUGE THING in common.
You must perform them confidently. You have to perform them with “something on your face,” or the audience is going to get bored. And really, what dancer is sad enough to bore an audience with a JAZZ piece?
I can honestly say that I am one thousand times more likely to make it across the room with one six-step pirouette than I was five weeks ago. And yes, it has something to do with the fact that I can actually perform the turn correctly now, but really, it’s because I’m confident. Not overconfident but just enough. One day, I’ll be confidently joyful, too.
And just when I thought my week with Miss Jenna was over: “Okay, well, I’m obviously not Miss Sara.”
Miss Jenna subbed for ballet and pointe yesterday. It was awesome.
We did a lot of barre, a lot of stretching and a whole LOT of jumping in ballet. You lovelies definitely would have laughed at our pitiful attempt at Miss Jenna’s final combination. “This is what happens when you give them Coca-Cola at 8pm…!”
And now we know: no “coke” after eight.
Pointe shoes may be “torture devices for the feet,” but Miss Jenna gave Angela, Sarah and I a class to remember! Most of the lesson was spent in center, so our instructor had to remind us several times, “It’s very rare that people die during pointe work. You have a better chance of dying out in the parking lot.”
What I gladly realized yesterday is that after five weeks of jazz class, I’ve gained enough confidence to be noticeable in my ballet dancing.
And that’s the best feeling in the world.
Aquinnah
I love this post. I totally understand the confidence thing; makes plies feel like a gift from God :). I love you and congrats on what sounds like some new-found dance freedom!! Keep it coming!!
Oh, Emma!– you make me laugh (which, after watching Titanic, I really needed). Love you girl. Thanks for the encouragement!