Soloists

Part 1: Gosia #1

I looked at my blue reflection in the mirror, unable to believe how my career had turned out. I didn't go to ballet school to play a blue avatar in a shabby theater. But what could I do? You have to make money, and dancing was all I had.

I applied another coat of blue paint to the sponge and slowly I was transforming myself into a movie character.

What did I actually want? Ever since I was a child, I'd dreamed of the stage, and beautiful costumes and wonderful stories told through movement. I was already dancing in kindergarten when my parents signed me up for my first class. I was maybe four years old. They cheered me on and enjoyed my little achievements, supported me when success required effort and dedication, motivated me when failure came. It was thanks to my parents that I got to the ballet school, which was far from my childhood dreams. Constant trainings, diets, pain, sweat and tears, and on top of that the usual math, biology, languages. There was no time for youth and its rights. We were isolated from the real world, but still scraps of it reached us. Someone brought cigarettes to the dormitory and we smoked in the loo until everyone sick. Other times someone caught someone drinking beer, or kissing - just the usual semblance of teenage life, that was still going on outside of us. 

All these years I gave it my all at practice. Teachers praised me, I was often set as a and I've always treated every little role like the role of a lifetime and I danced as if I were Carmen. Gnotkiewicz, the head of the company, promised me promised me the main role in his graduation performance but in the end but in the end he gave the part to Kalina. At the time I thought I would die of grief. I couldn't even defend myself against Gnotkevich, who argued to others that I was not capable of withstanding the pressure of the leading role, that it was too much responsibility and all that. To this day I don't know how I pulled myself together then, but I danced my minor role to the best of my ability. I was going for the final exam as if it was my salvation. I wanted to finally put an end to the several years of annoyances and mockeries, which were served to me mainly by Koterbinska - The great Helena "Higher than an Ass" Koterbinska. I was hope that they would give me a diploma and I would be free. But no, this Warsaw prima donna couldn't allow me to keep even the remnants of self-confidence. Oh no! "You Ratajczakówna dance correctly, even some people might admire you, but but you have no chance for big roles, because you can't handle it. You'd better take care of running ballet school in some Pcim, because you won't be a star you won't be a star, dearie."

I was snapped out of this fateful memory by a name that my blue pointy ears picked up, even though I had drifted into memories so deep that I smeared paint on part of my costume.

Duke. Peter Duke. This is a man whose plays have been staged in the greatest theaters in the world. I've seen some of them live and they made such an impression on me that for days afterwards I couldn't think about anything else. I once went to see the play "Manhatan" in Teatr Wielki, I think it was I think it was one of Peter's first performances in Poland. I arrived a few hours before the show, because of course I got the wrong time. Not I didn't feel like wandering around Warsaw, so I decided to stay in the theater, which I considered as my second home. I was walking around the corridors, thanks to Mrs. Mira, whom I knew since I also looked backstage and on the stage. When I came back to the main hall, sounds from the dance hall came to my ears. I couldn't help but peek in. A rehearsal before the rehearsal before the premiere, dancers full of grace, bursting with energy, and he - Peter Duke talking to them as if they were family, encouraging, motivating, joyful. As I stood in the ajar doorway, he noticed me. me. I shuddered as he took off running toward me. I was already preparing some twisted explanation when he opened the the door open wider, put his arm around me, and led me inside. "For them you dance," he said, "For people who love dance so much that they look for it at the door of the rehearsal room." - He added while pulling a a large photo of the band and putting his signature on it.

It was the most beautiful day of my life! And now I was sitting in the dressing room of the community center with blue paint on my face, getting ready for another performance with no substance, no flair, no sense.

- When is the audition? - the words flowed out of me involuntarily.

I turned to the girl next to me, I think it was Emilka, and at that I didn't even know the name of the dancing girl. I didn't even know the name of the girl dancing in the same performance! She looked at me puzzled and handed me a flyer.

- Here! - she said ironically, handing me a piece of paper. - You won't make it anyway - She added, putting the cosmetics in order in front of the mirror.

I looked at the date on the leaflet and felt faint.

22.06.2019 That's tomorrow! The only audition.

- Today is Friday night! - I said to the card. - I'm dancing right now. This is Gdansk! The audition is in Warsaw! - I shouted. - How am I going to get there?

The giggling of the girls reached me, but I ignored it. I took a few breaths and started to think. I grabbed smartphone and started searching for flights, but it was impossible possible to book so late before the actual departure. Similarly, train connections were beyond booking. A little darkened in front of my eyes when I realized that in three hours there is three hours there is a train to Warsaw, but no tickets. But I knew that this was my chance and I would go to Warsaw, even if I had to ride on the roof of that train! I decided that I would go on stage, dance and then go to the train station to beg for help and beg for help from everyone I met. I wanted to dance in Peter Duke's team, so I had to get to the capital.