| Blue Diamond Dance site and content ©Copyright 1997-2003 Rosetta Magdalen | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
I can remember as a child I loved to dance. I would listen to classical music and dance in my bedroom as if I were a princess dancing for my audience of teddy bears and raggedy dolls. Unfortunately, my mother never put me in any kind of dance lesson. I guess she never realized my love for classical music and dance and so I remained a bedroom ballerina for the next 15 years.
About three years ago, I was in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. I broke my foot, my hand, some ribs and busted up my head pretty bad. All I can say is that I am lucky that is all that happened. I was knocked unconscious for about five minutes. Those five minutes changed my life forever.
I had a vision or a dream, if you will, that I was on a beautiful marble stage performing for angels. I looked at my feet and saw myself dancing on pointe and moving with such fluidity and grace. I woke up to find myself smashed up against the steering wheel and a ton of glass stuck in my head. I was in shock so I didn't feel my broken bones yet.
As my days of recovery passed, I swore to myself that I was going to start taking ballet lessons as soon as I was able to. I was bedridden for a couple of weeks so I asked my mother to buy me every ballet book she could find at the used book store, and so she did. I read them as if they quenched a thirst that had been building for a long time. My heart ached to dance.
As I got stronger, I started to teach myself anything I could from the books such as the positions of the arms and feet. The different types of arabesques and pirouettes. How to plié and how to balance. It seemed to come very naturally to me.
After several months of therapy, it was time for me to find a school. I went to visit several ballet schools but I couldn't find one that offered adult ballet. After almost giving up all hope, my sweet boyfriend suggested a school that his ex used to attend. I was a little upset at first but then I decided to check it out.
I pulled into the driveway and I knew that this was the one. It felt like heaven to me. It was a large white school with spacious windows and a wonderful air about it. Sure enough they offered adult classes! I can remember hearing the piano music while I was discussing options with the director. Chopin was playing. I wanted to start dancing right there, but I had to wait a week.
My first class was adult beginning ballet. I loved it more than I can even explain. I remember looking out of the window of the studio and thinking about how it sure beat dancing in my bedroom. I looked in the mirror at my reflection while we were at the barre with a huge smile on my face. The highlight of the class was when one of the other students asked me how long I had been dancing because it was obvious to her that this wasn't my first time. I thought to myself, 'if only she knew.'
Several months of beginning ballet went by and I decided that I needed to dance more. I needed more of a challenge. So I joined the intermediate class. I had two classes a week. During that time I had built my own little homemade studio in my apartment. I made a barre from wood that I bought from Home Depot and stuck a ton of mirrors all over the place. Not a day has gone by that I have not done some type of ballet work in my 'ballet room.'
One day the director of my school suggested that I take a Level 5 class which met three times a week. When she called to ask me I almost cried. Sure, there would be younger girls in the class, but I didn't care. I would have taken 20 classes a week if I could have. The director of my school has been very supportive of me. She recognized my love for ballet. She tells all of the teachers how dedicated I am. One day while she was teaching our intermediate class, she told me that she was amazed I had only been dancing for such a short period of time. I am very grateful for her and her school.
Well, almost two years have gone by now, and I am happy to say that I have six classes a week and I am loving it. Everyday I strive to become better and live out the promise I made to myself. I hope to one day join a company, but if that doesn't happen, I want to teach adults ballet. As long as there is music to dance to, my body will follow. I still have my audience of teddy bears and dolls. They are a constant reminder to me to never give up. After all, they have been watching me dance for over 15 years....
Update (2/99):
Christina's story is about a year old. Now, she has begun teaching a children's ballet class, and is now rehearsing for a small role in Sleeping Beauty. But here it is, in her own words.
Last week, I auditioned for Sleeping Beauty. It is being put on by a small pre-professional company here in Connecticut. That same day, the director called me and told me that I would definitely have a role in the ballet. Exact casting would come about after a couple months of rehearsal classes.
I have already been to two rehearsals and I love it. I definitely keep up with the rest of the company, but the problem is I'm pretty new at pointe. Most of the girls have had a few years already.
I am so happy. Two of my dreams have come true [teaching and performing], and next year I will be on stage dancing in Sleeping Beauty.
And, in an additional e-mail:
The cast list for Sleeping Beauty went up last week and I was cast as the good fairy of the crystal fountain. I was almost crying when I saw it.
Not that this matters, but I got the role that another girl danced last year and they tended to keep everyone in the same spots if they were in the ballet before. That almost made me feel like I didn't deserve the part but deep down, I know it was the part for me. I think that I am still in denial. I am so happy.
And, yet more:
This past Tuesday, I auditioned for a dance part in Evita at the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre, and they gave me the role of lead dancer right on the spot. They told me I owned the stage and they would be honored to work with me!
Unfortunately, I can't do it because it conflicts with Sleeping Beauty, and I wouldn't give that up for anything.
I have been practicing about seven days a week, and the need to keep going gets stronger every day.
Update (4/99): My performance in Sleeping Beauty is in a couple of weeks. We have a Friday night performance as well as a Saturday matinee and an evening show.
I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. The director has me dancing in almost all of the three acts. I have a good hour of dancing in the whole ballet.
I have been practicing en pointe like a madwoman for the past five months and it has really paid off. Almost a year ago, I didn't think I would be able to do anything in pointe shoes and now I'm dancing a whole ballet in them.
There is a very special irony to me about this ballet. When I was little, when I used to dance around in my room, my favorite song was the waltz from Sleeping Beauty. Now, every time I am at my rehearsals and I hear that song, I am taken back and a wonderful feeling fills my heart. It just feels right to me that my first ballet should be Sleeping Beauty, The music just engulfs my soul.
I have a beautiful light blue tutu with silver trim and tiny crystals on it. I look at it every day. I know when that curtain goes up and when I make my entrance, it is going to be like walking into the most beautiful dream I could ever imagine.
Even though I am not Sleeping Beauty , I am going to feel like a queen. A queen who is awakening to her dream come true. I am going to dance with every ounce of energy in my body. I have shed many tears and sometimes felt like giving up during my ballet training, but now I am happy to say it has all been worth it.
Update (9/01): The past year I've had some down time from dancing because of a knee injury but I'm back at it now. I'm going to be in Cinderella in October. I have a great role and lots of great steps. I even get to do a fish dive with my partner in the middle of the pumpkin scene. After Sleeping Beauty, I did Firebird with Mystic Ballet and Nutcracker with Albano Ballet. Right now I'm working with Dance Connecticut and Hartford Children's Theatre.
Update (11/02): Just a little update, I'm still dancing. I had to overcome that knee injury but now I'm back dancing and running my business at the same time. I'm dancing with a different company now in CT. My teacher is awesome. He makes everyone very aware of the postition of their knees. I haven't had a problem since I've been dancing with
N.C.Ballet. I still feel so much happiness when I get e-mails from people who have visited your site. It makes me so happy. Once again, thank you for all of your advice and all of my love to you.-- Christina Marie Purpura
