Being a Ballerina

Being a Ballerina

I, Sarah Goldman, certify that I have personally completed this assignment based on my own personal efforts. I understand if I use outside sources, I must properly give my source(s) credit using the APA format and my paper should not include more than 20% of direct quotes from other sources. I understand if I do not provide proper credit to outside sources, I will be documented for plagiarism and be required to resubmit a new assignment. I will not divulge the content of this assignment or any of my work, generally or specifically, to any current or future James Madison High School students. DATE: 11/8/16

     I've wanted to be a ballerina ever since I could dance; I wanted to be like Martha Graham with the perfect point or Anna Pavlova, one of the most influential dancers in ballet. I was seven years old when I started. From barre practices all the way to Grand Jete's and pirouettes. The work to get there is not easy at all: Hours tending to broken skin, blisters, practicing a perfect point, and keeping my posture which my ballet master reminds me every day was not easy. Ballet isn't comfortable, and when it gets hard I always keep one thing in mind "Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion" - Martha Graham.

    "Three more days until the show, girls! Be prepared, get rest, and please remember to practice your Grand adage." our ballet master (teacher) announces before leaving the studio. Three more days until the show and I am a nervous wreck, there is going to be so many people. What if I get stage fright and it takes over? What if I freeze? Or miss my steps in front of all those people? Thank Goodness, I have my lucky charm my mother gave me when she took on ballet, it was a gift to her by her ballet mistress who believed in my mom; it makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. Almost everybody has left the studio, only two other girls and I left to practice as much as possible.

     Coming home aching, sore I was so tired, sleep sounds so good right know.  "Darling, it is very late! Why did you stay at the studio so late?" my mother greets me with a scowl. "We have the show on Thursday, and I am so scared I will mess up badly and disappoint my teacher" I confessed my fear and continued "so I stayed because I needed to practice more." Her expression softened " Oh but Charlie, you shouldn't overwork your body, I believe you will do amazing! And keep your lucky charm on!" her words put an ease to my nervousness. "Thank you, mom, I love you. I'm going to get some rest; I need to be ready again for tomorrow morning." to which like always she replies” Eat something! You need food for energy."

     Tuesday was filled with grand jete's turning into grand allegro's, petit allegros, adages, pointe-work and arabesque exercises. I can feel my legs give in as I put all my strength into my last practice: "The Butterfly." Turning my body up into the air with as much vigor as I can, throwing myself into the air, bending my left leg back even more as my right leg stretches out to stick the landing safely and gracefully. Receiving applause from my classmates and the teacher made me feel better about my moves. I held onto my lucky charm, thank god I have this! What would I do without it? I thought.   However, on Wednesday, I received the most dreadful news!  "Ok girls gather 'round, gather 'round!" my teacher ushered us to the middle to sit. Our attention now on him. "I have bad news and good news...." he paused for effect, then continued "your costumes have arri-" he couldn't even finish as a chorus of excitement rang through the room. "yes I know you all are very excited. The bad news is that the costume jewelry we got will not be used for this event, not even personal jewelry; we would like to keep it straightforward and clean! Thank you! That is all and I will see you all tomorrow for the show."

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