Health & Fitness
Table for One: Stage Fright
Me in a leotard? It's as scandalous as it can be in the suburbs.
There I am. I have visions of standing at the barre, admiring myself in a fierce leotard. My legs are lean in their tights. My arms are sculpted.
Then I look in the mirror and realize my 5 foot 3 frame does not lend itself to long legs. Nor will I be flaunting around in anything form fitting.
It’s been nearly 30 years since I put on a pair of ballet slippers. I don’t remember much, except the owner, “Miss Renee”, was a sweet woman. Had she not passed away, I probably would have continued classes until I was at least a pre-teen.
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But I did not. Yet this week, I’m going to sissonne en avant to where my daughter attends dance and join a beginners adult ballet class. Seriously, who are we kidding? I am not doing a sissonne. Yet.
I am scared out of my mind to start. For one thing, I’m pretty sure I won’t look like a “dancer” flopping around, 25 pounds overweight, in my leggings. And I'm hardly the picture of grace and elegance.
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And yes, you read that correctly. My daughter goes to Lakeshore DreamDance Company. That means she's placed in a class with a higher skill level.
I could have chosen a different school. But there are so many reasons why I chose to take ballet there. I’m fond of Lakeshore DreamDance’s instructors and its new studio is gorgeous. I want to begin 2013 with something new. I need another creative outlet – blogging isn’t much fun when you have perpetual writer’s block. I’m looking for a way to help improve my balance, posture, and stamina as I am training for another half marathon. Ballet seems like a natural choice.
How natural? I’m unsure. I think I may be more hip hop than ballet. But I’ll let you know after the first class. And remember, if you see a Mom walking into the school without a child, it’s likely me. Be sure to tell me to “break a leg!”