Letter

I took a break from ballet for 3 solid weeks. It gave me time to develop other aspects of my life which had been stalled because I only have so much time and energy to devote to my obsessions (I never have hobbies; I have obsessions). Upon returning to dance, I am reminded of what a gift it is, how it brought my so-so life to a level that is more like exceptional. I also am reminded of how much learning there is to do, but still it was a very good break...an innocent chat with Mary, who will be leaving for China soon, reminded me, thirdly, that to become great at something, sacrifices must be made. To follow an extraordinary path, one must give up the ordinary one. Now I sound delusional, but so be it! I have a crocheted pink Maryflower to remind me to Always Be Extraordinary.

Yours truly,

Angelina Ballerina

Bikram ballet. A medicinal class. A sweaty, tropical class. Ballerinas can sweat.

-path of movement: head --> center --> outward; ever expanding
-with arms at 2nd, push self forward into the round space
-how to get up from a chair; studying the force of resistance; we push off and stop in low arabesque, but appear to keep going forward
-jetEs deconstructed
-rib cage: Argh. Why won't it go in?

A tower of cards; a pink Maryflower; a dancing form trapped in glass; beads trapped between layers of ceramic; creativity is everywhere apparent, is in full bloom.

"There is only one 2nd arabesque."

-with the right leg back; the packaging of various directions and limbs into a single idea: the arabesque; the simple act of naming a movement facilitates understanding and retention of the combination; "développé" rather than "the left leg flicks out", for instance
-holding giant oranges: only the beginning of an idea which has to do with laundry billowing on a clothesline and segmentation
-pas de basque vs. pas de valse: a difference in accent

-how have things been? chug chug chug
-"last" means "middle"
-a standing ovation for Kip