Ballet Mom
My life is totally dominated by ballet. Â Ballet auditions, ballet rehearsals, ballet clothes, ballet buns. Â Not to mention regular ballet classes.
August started so peacefully, in spite of the fact that Pumpkin Girl moved up a level in ballet and so is now up to 3 classes a week of an hour and half each. Â Then she auditioned for and was offered a spot in her school’s pre-professional company. Â That came with a requirement to take one other dance class, plus company meetings and rehearsals. Â She chose her additional class to be one that happens immediately before company rehearsals, so we drop her off on Saturday after lunch and pick her up sometime around dinner. Â It depends on what they are rehearsing.
Of course, there were additional clothing items needed for being in the company, including another black leo, another uniform leo and a company warm-up suit. Â The company warm-ups are optional. Â Well, to the studio they are, but not to the dancers! Â How can you possibly make the company and not buy the warm-ups? We smiled understandingly and wrote the check.
Her place in the company guaranteed her a role in their Nutcracker, taking place in December. Â She was happy to be given a party girl role. Â I quaked in fear of the natural-hair boingy curls for her straight, straight hair.
Then she auditioned for and was given a role in the Nutcracker that is performed with our city’s philharmonic orchestra and a professional ballet company from out of town. She was also given a party girl role. Â More boingy curls! She was slightly disappointed because she wanted to be a baker. Â Bakers get to bounce on a mini trampoline disguised as a cake, no curls needed.
Then last week she was given an additional role in the company Nutcracker as a soldier. Â The trick here is that she will perform the party girl role and the soldier role on the same day, in different shows. Â They require different hair. Â If – and I PRAY this happens – she is a party girl in the first show, then in between shows I can wet down the curls and slick them back into a simple bun that will tuck under her soldier hat. Â If it goes the other way, soldier in the first show, party girl in the second, I will have to curl her hair, by hand!!! with a curling iron. Â Woe!
She’s putting 12 hours in the studio this week. Â She is dancer, hear her roar.
And me? Â I put her hair in a bun, decipher the rehearsal schedules, write the checks, drive the car. Â I don’t mind, I’m get to be the proud ballet mom.