Growing up, I was a self-proclaimed bun head. Weekday afternoons and weekend mornings were spent at the studio, and summers were spent at ballet-intensive programs. Dancing was my passion. Finally landing that turn, the first time I went up on pointe, the feeling I got from being on stage; these moments were priceless. Ballet is admired for its seemingly effortless elegance. However, for those of us that used to do it, we know that achieving this elegance took a lot of hard work and dedication, and is one of the many possible reasons we decided to let it go. It's been six years since my ballet lessons ended, but there are still moments today that reveal the ballerina in me. Overall, I'd like to think I took away some valuable lessons on the virtue of patience, hard work, and striving to be your best. So, in honor of "The Nutcracker" season, here's a list of things former ballet dancers can relate to.
1. You dreaded hearing the word "adagio."
Oh, those Développés were a killer. How many do we really need?!
2. "Go into arabesque" was not a fun phrase either.
3. Your arch was never up to par.
4. Your turnout was never good enough, either.
5. You're still slightly obsessed with posture.
Whether I'm sitting at my computer or waiting in line for food, I can still hear my dance teacher's voice in a tiny corner of my mind telling me to keep my shoulders back, chin up, and my back straight. Twelve years of ballet later, and I still haven't managed to get the posture thing right. (Sorry, mom!)
5. New pointe shoes are beautiful.
But unwearable. They needed to be beaten, bent, you name it. Whatever it took to break 'em in order to be made danceable. You do not understand pain until you've worn a pair of pointe shoes.
6. Gel pads.
These were lifesavers. Enough said.
7. You still have some of your old pointe shoes.
Unfortunately, these shoes did not come cheap and more than likely, you went through pairs the way one drinks water. Not going to lie, I still have a few pairs displayed in my room. Hey, they make for nice decor.
8. Going up on pointe for the first time felt magical.
9. And then you came down.
Absolute misery. table for one, please!
10. You still have bun accessories lying around.
Bun holders, hair nets, bobby pins, you name it, and I still have 'em. Yet I can never seem to find any bobby pins when I need them...
11. Clear nail polish isn't just for nails.
For mending a run in your tights to the ends of your pointe shoe laces, this polish definitely came in handy.
12. The feeling of both excitement and dread when the casting list for "The Nutcracker" was posted.
13. Sometimes you still practice your barre stretches.
As well as your first through fifth positions. Just for fun--and out of habit.
