Think Again

I'm a ballerina, and often times, I will hear things about ballet. Some people say that ballet is easy and that "anyone can do it". I often sigh hearing that because ballet is not necessarily "easy". It takes hours of practice and lots of dedication. Dance moves don't always click and you have to try over and over again before you get it. Even after years of experience as a dancer, there is always something new to learn or places where you can improve. If any adjective describes dance, easy is not it.

Last year, I wrote a poem for my English about ballet, and I recently rediscovered it while I was organizing my school papers. I'd like to share it here.

Think Again

"Ballet is for those who are weak"
Pursing my lips at the words you speak,
 I sigh to myself, knowing you are wrong, 
to be a ballerina, you have to be strong!

You see ballerinas dancing onstage,
graceful and smiling despite their age.
Across the stage they glide and flow
like leaves of a tree that the wind does blow.

What is not seen is the preparation
 and the constant show of dedication.
To be willing to try a new dance move,
falling, just to stand up and improve.

To turn together on the tip of the toe
takes time and precision, taking it slow.
At once, you concentrate on a trillion things
but when you've perfect it, it feels like you're on wings.

The names of the moves happen to be French
unlike other sports, there is no bench.
We dance for hourse, taking no breaks
working on one dance, erasing mistakes.

After class, when we take off our shoes
we happen to find two toenails bruised.
Our toes hut and calves ache
but this is just one price we have to make.

So, for those who say ballerinas are weak,
think again before you speak.
If none of these words you happen to buy,
ballet is something I'd like to see you try!

When people go to watch ballet recitals, what they view is the product of months of preparation. The show looks flawless and the dancers graceful. Some say that it even looks like ballerinas are dancing on air! In order to get to this point though, many months of classes and practice have to be taken before the show. I can guarentee you that when we practice, it does not always go as smoothly as onstage. We have to stop the song, change moves and positions, take out moves, add expression and do a dozen other things during our practices. It's a lot of work!

So, is ballet easy? No, not necessarily. But after performing, when you hear the audience applaud, all the hard work put into the show becomes worth it.

~Emily Silverwing