Dearest darlings,
As the wind whips through my perfectly coiffed locks, the sun shining down on my perfectly painted nails (you know I'm always on fleek), it seems only right to dedicate this column to those who really know how to move, those who twirl with grace, those who leap with artistry - you guessed it, my dears - ballerinas.
It's January 16th, 1997, and I feel the urge to gush about this particular breed of human, their dedication to perfecting the art form that is ballet, a constant struggle to make it look easy while demanding absolute, unwavering strength. (Honestly, dear reader, sometimes I wonder if these ladies have muscles I don't even *know* I possess!).
Speaking of ballet, oh, how it makes my heart flutter! It's not just about graceful limbs, it's a whole universe unto itself. The gorgeous tutus (just try and tell me they're not breathtaking, I dare you!), the stunning leotards, the carefully placed pink or white tulle, a veritable feast for the eyes! The discipline, the beauty, the absolute poetry in motion!
But let's not pretend, we all have those thoughts as we watch the impossibly flexible ballerinas perform their balletic feats. Thoughts that begin with "Can I…?", quickly evolve into "No, probably not.", and finally, resolve themselves in "Well, there's no harm in dreaming, right? "
Now, darling, before you think I'm about to slip into an overly saccharine ode to tutus, I must confess I'm not blind to the potential for utter, absolute hilarity within the realm of ballet.
**Behold, dear reader, a list of just *some* of the humorous moments to be found in ballet:**
- The "swan" who loses her balance and nearly ends up on her face instead of en pointe. Oh, the indignity!
- The young, pre-teen "princess" who forgets to turn her head at the correct moment, resulting in a panicked search for her stage-mother during the curtain call. Such awkward, glorious beauty!
- The male dancer whose facial expressions seem to be stuck on "deep contemplation," even during the grand allegro sections! Who says ballet is all about effortless grace, eh?
- The legendary *pas de deux* in which the lead ballerina struggles to keep her grip on her partner, while maintaining that illusion of effortless strength - all the while avoiding an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. So close to perfection!
- The sheer delight of witnessing a little dancer who's simply bursting with pride as they proudly demonstrate a "new move" they learned that very morning, perhaps forgetting that we can all see them desperately clinging on to their *barre* seconds before! What a glorious little ray of sunshine, don't you think?
Let's face it, the human condition, even on the balletic stage, is not all swans and tutus - thank goodness for that, because if it was, life would be *utterly* boring.
And that, darling, is just the thing I never tire of in this magnificent world we inhabit - it's that incredible mix of sheer joy, absolute disaster, and sometimes, that beautiful and undeniably human ability to rise up, laugh, and try it all again!
So here's to ballerinas everywhere, those exquisite humans with their passion for the art, a twinkle in their eyes and the potential for utter joy on their face, even when they accidentally trip, or fall, or get the grand finale choreography spectacularly wrong.
In short, dear reader, this is just what keeps it interesting. The beautiful and the ridiculous. And when you stop to think about it, that's the *true* magic of life itself.