Barred by Ballet

Chapter 8: Behind Barres Too

We all prepared ourselves for Madam Innessa's next command. Meanwhile we planted our feet in first position turned out, placed our left arm on the barre, leaving our right arm out to the side in second postion.

"Pliés!" Madam Innessa exclaimed and the piano abrubtly bounced into a 3/4 timing.

"Demi plie!" We brought our right arm down to a low first position, straighten it, demi plie, brought our right arm to chest-level, straightened it then opened our arm to second.

"Grande plie!" We gracefully moved our right arm down while bending our knees, then opened our arm through the chest while straightening our legs.

"Releve!" We rose on the balls of our feet and held our positions. Then we lowered to first position in demi plie, tendu right foot to the side, and then lowered our heel to stand in second position.

"Repeat!" We repeated that combination in second, fourth and fith position (remembering in the fifth position to pull our heels together in sous sous and balance with our arms in high fifth position.)

"Encore - right hand on the barre!" We repeated the entire exercise on the other arm.

When the piano slowed to a hault I exhaled and wiped away the sweat that was trickling down my fore head.

Shortly after the first set of warm up combinations we were then commanded to split into groups of six to work "en pointe". Guess whose group I was placed in? Eva and her evil twin minions Mollie and Hollie. I wasn't sure why she hated me but whatever the reason was, it surely worked her up.

She was pouting and frowning but I tried to ignore those three while I searched for my pointe shoes. After a half minitue of tranquil rummaging I began to panic and flung the contents out of my bag until it was bare. It was no where to be found. I tried to retrace my steps but to no avail the end of the lucky stick broke for me.

"Group B, on the floor!" Madam Innessa kindly noticed my plight and delibratley summoned the other group before ours. I smiled as a symbol of gratitude and then sat on the floor pondering over the possible places I could have dropped it.

This time the piano's melody couldn't have been anymore ironic as it sounded furious, and fast-paced. The melody was quite distracting because it made me felt angry. Angry, because I counldn't find my shoes. Angry because Eva and her minions were dying of laughter over the fact. Angry, because I'm in a strange place with strange people. Angry because my parents forced me to be here. Angry to the point when you just want to give up.

I coundn't stop the sole dry tear from rolling down my cheek. I did not want to dance anymore. Dancing just feels painful. Not because I lost a stupid pointe shoe, but mostly because I have no more reason to feel happy when I'm dancing.

I felt a warm hand pressed against the small of my back. "Do you need a hand?" the tiny voice asked. I wipped away the wettness off of my cheek that remained from the tear.

"More like a foot." I replied in a gloomy tone. She glanced at my feet then giggled which sounded like a chirping baby bird. I couldn't help but laugh at her laugh.

"I'm Kemma." she introduced herself. "Mia, nice to meet you!" I responded kindly.

"I'm sure your shoes would turn up." Kemma said confidently. I sighed in disbelif and shook my head.

Soon thereafter, a male dancer strode into our class with a sack in his hand. "Good day, excuse the intrusion," he enunciated with a deep tone of voice, "Has anyone lost this sack?" He held up the sack in mid air pointing at it and scanning the class with his eyes to see if anyone would reply.

I was completely in a trance, could this day get anymore cliche?

Everyone pointed their index fingers toward me, I couldn't help but feel like the culprit and the idiot for causing an entire session to hault just for me.

"I guess these are yours? You bumped into me earlier. I'm sorry I didn't return them sooner but I was searching all the studios along the block." I sat motionless watching up at him in awe. Not because of his handsomeness but rather I couldn't belive this day is real. Is he real? Am I real? Is this how Cinderella felt?

"I'd love to see you dance some day, Zelder Berns is my favourite shoe maker. You must have a lot of passion to dance in these." He thrust the bag in my direction and I took them away from his grip. I love dancing! I chanted in my mind. These shoes mean so much to me now. I just didn't want this moment to be over but then it was until he walked out the door.

"Group A, on the floor!" Madam Inessa, furious because her class was interrupted not once but twice. In both instances they were caused by me. Her eyes were gleaming with hurriedness. I had to get my pointe shoes on quickly.

I forgot that the pointe shoes were brand new and I didn't attach the ribbions to them.

"I have some extra ribbons if you'd like?" Kemma offered.

"Sure thanks." I took her ribbions and attached them as swiftly as possible. As a ballerina, this is a trick that you learn and it'll become like second nature to you. Everyone laces thier pointe shoes differently but it's all to gain the same result - comfort.