See her spin and twirl.
She floats around the stage like a feather in the wind.
Every time you think she is going to fall, another breeze comes and sweeps her back up into the scene.
No amount of gravity seems to hold her down, juxtaposing physics as we know them.
Some critique amateur, while others swear a virtuoso descended from the heavens.
The theater roars with applause and wails of jealousy.
What am I talking about? The beauty of a ballet dancer controlling the stage.
The dancer has one purpose: convince the crowd that the techniques seem easy.
This illusion of ballet entices even the most relaxed viewers.
Dancers are not born this way.
They are molded into it by their teachers, peers and influences in the field.
What is molded? Well their physical performance and mental discipline.
One moment a head is shifted backwards with a leg mirror opposite; the next second their body is free floating in air tapping their legs together, and the next thing you know, the ballet dancer is swinging every appendage around in the most elegant forms.
Yes, this is a well rehearsed execution of movements that have been passed down through the centuries.
All just to entertain you for a one night stand.
A performance art with loyal servants filled with the up-most of skill, dedication, patience and persistence.
Considering I can barely get in front of five people and tell a joke, ballet performers amaze me with their ability to entertain a full theater with a small stage that serves as a pitiful excuse for a hiding place.
Another exotic, complicate pose brings on a roar of cheer throughout the hollowed dome.
Hours and hours of practice and work outs; all for this moment.
What else is required of our performers? Ballet is French, most of the commands barked by professional teachers are in French.
You got it, our ballet dancer is also a linguist.
All the trimmed gluts, abs, and calves will not make a ballet enthusiast instructor bark at you in English.
From the balls to the toes, en pointe ballet dancing is engaged in our performer.
The most stressful, backbreaking techniques now push their weight from neck to toes.
The ballet dancer is under so much strain, and the pointe shoes are not very comfortable either.
That does not stop her.
Spring up to releve, all the way to the tip of the toes, that pointe shoe is painful but you have done it before, shoulders back to trick the crowd once again that your arms are shorter than they are, ankles fill like they are going to shatter, but there, you reached the height of your releve; now fall back to a graceful pointe to a retire.
Finish off with a pirouette and back to the story we go.
When the tutus come on, its not time to play nice.
These dancers are healthy, muscular, well disciplined, and ready to fight for your applause.
Its a beautiful set of events in the studio, at home, or in a theater.
Be prepared for a show, but you will leave with an experience.
Watch the coordination, how many times must they have practiced to do that move correctly? The theater deceives us all to an extent.
Only the ballet dancers and the pointe shoes know the true story.
Ballet Dancer pictures show a glimpse of the story.