Gluttons for Punishment

So, I'm going to go ahead and start this blog post with a double apology. First, I want to apologize for the swans' extended absence. Black Swan migrated to a land far, far away and while she was gone, I just got plain old lazy. I mean, let's face it, Black Swan is the funny one in this duo. And the organized one. And the motivated writer. Which brings me to my second apology - I will go ahead and say I'm sorry in advance for what I'm assuming will be a disjointed flow of ideas, not unlike brain diarrhea. Ok, I have to apologize for that terrible metaphor. Which makes 3 apologies. In one paragraph. We are off to a good start!

Anyway, the swans attended their first class together last Saturday (we each had attended one solo class). And man, were we out of shape! I mean, I know it's much easier to lose ground in dance or exercise than it is to gain it, but this felt like our first class all over again. During barre, we did relevés on one foot. By the end of the combination, neither of us could get more than half way up over our toes. And our grand battements were anything but. And don't get me started on the chainé turns. No really, don't!

But, we had fun (as usual). Taking a moment in between each exercise to laugh at ourselves and regain at least a tiny bit of composure before beginning the next masochistic combination. And we'll be back twice a week for more punishment.

~White Swan

Jody Sawyer School of Ballet

So, I really should be drifting peacefully to sleep right now, but I know Black Swan will karate chop my face if I don't blog my little swan heart out right now. So prepare for the random stream of thoughts that I will attempt to compile into a coherent blog entry.

We found out tonight at class that our teacher has a sense of humor. She was seriously in a good mood. Apparently, one of the students brought her chocolate (brown-noser! I wish I had thought of that). She also has arches that go on for days. Seriously, I can't help but stare at her feet. She makes a perfect fifth look like nothin'. She is also a really good teacher. We will miss her. Because next week, the swans start class at the Jody Sawyer School of Ballet (JSSOB)!

If you don't know who Jody Sawyer is, shame on you! She is only our idol and favorite character from our favorite ballet movie Center Stage. I mean, who wouldn't sleep with Cooper Nielson if they had the chance! But I digress.

The swans will be taking classes at the school Amanda Schull attended before she became Jody Sawyer. We figure it's our best chance to score a role in the next great ballet movie (too bad we just missed out on Black Swan - although the movie was loosely based our our autobiographies). I mean, the way we figure it, we should have the lead roles in the Nutcracker by Christmas, so we should be ready to star in film by summer of next year.

But seriously, the reason we are leaving this class is it is a tad too advanced for our addled brains and geriatric bodies. For now. We really want to try to find that rarest of dance classes, the TRUE adult beginner class. I miss feeling like a bit of a rock star in my college ballet classes (where I think I was the only one who had ever danced a step in my life). We plan to try 3 different classes this weekend (including one at the JSSOB). So, wish us luck and maybe we'll remember your name when they are asking us if we have anyone in mind for supporting roles.

~White Swan

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard

So, there is a certain assumption about ballerina's body-types (which in professional dancers is 9 times out of 10 pretty accurate).  And I'm not saying that this is a negative thing - most of them are able to reach that without unhealthy practices.  But I like to think that as adult beginners, we don't need to worry about portraying that image.  Which is good.  Because I don't.  I mean, I'm relatively fit - but I am a far cry from being considered "svelte" or anyone worrying that I have an eating disorder.  And I just ordered a chocolate milkshake from the diner across the street.  Just wanted to put that out there in the universe.

Don't judge me!!

-White Swan