11 views
Prima Ballerina
She slowly took a 6-count step toward centre stage. Her unexpected appearance caused a sudden, collective, intake of breath by the audience, wherein, as if in syncopated unison, that audible gasp rose in the crowded theatre, and echoed from the far reaches of the elaborate opera house! At centre stage, she paused, and ever so slightly, performed a plié, pushed to retiré, and rotated into a graceful half-pointe pirouette, effortlessly and flawlessly executed. That collective gasp and long-held breath, now a sigh, wooshed audibly as they exhaled, for she had delicately melted to the floor in swan-like elegance!
At 82, Madam Latriceie was the epitome of grace and refinement, still as flexible and graceful as a Persian cat.
The audience erupted in thunderous applause, some openly sobbing for they so missed her phenomenal and legendary performances.
The danseur, the young male dancer, Lucien, having just spun his way across the stage in a series of fouettés, waited in the wings so all eyes would be on Madam! Once the fingertips of her hands, crossed upon each other as her arms lay stretched in front of her, lightly touched the floor, he glided out to centre stage, offered his outstretched hand to Madam Latriceie. Thankful for his assistance, but not where anyone could notice it, Madam Latriceie rose to the continued applause of the delighted audience!
I sat wide-eyed in the front row with my parents. At 8 years old, that was the second time I had attended a ballet, but I knew this moment, even at that tender age, would be one I would never forget! As it turned out, it was perhaps the most momentous occasion in my entire life for, that was the moment I decided the dance was what I wanted to do, to be, to live!!
There are things that occur in a young life that make such an impression that one never forgets the emotions, the aromas, the colors, all in that very moment of impact!
And now, 50 years later, after a whirlwind life filled with performances all over the world, more flowers than any perfumer has ever seen, an ocean of soothing foot baths and tons of pumice stones, and what must surely have been more spins than any planet in the universe, I was making my last professional performance! I never married! Dance was my life; my entourage and performers, my family. My manager, whom I had been in love with for years, but thought I was keeping that to myself what with all the other things going on in my life, was the closest thing to a life companion and seemed to share my passion for the dance, and for me, as I was to soon learn.
As the company gathered on the stage to take our last bows, the light suddenly seemed to shine on this wide-eyed little girl in the audience, her face beaming, seeming somewhat spellbound, standing next to her parents, front row, directly in front of me. So thrilled she was that she seemed rooted in place, hands clenched together in a frozen clap just under her chin, face up-turned in adoration!
Oh, how I knew that look! It was unmistakable!! I could feel the realization that had overtaken her!
Carefully, I stepped toward the edge of the stage, smiled down at her, and gently tossed my bouquet into the eager arms of who I knew would be the next Prima Ballerina
Sharon Cunningham
Facebook.com/sharon.cunningham.5076
© All Rights Reserved
At 82, Madam Latriceie was the epitome of grace and refinement, still as flexible and graceful as a Persian cat.
The audience erupted in thunderous applause, some openly sobbing for they so missed her phenomenal and legendary performances.
The danseur, the young male dancer, Lucien, having just spun his way across the stage in a series of fouettés, waited in the wings so all eyes would be on Madam! Once the fingertips of her hands, crossed upon each other as her arms lay stretched in front of her, lightly touched the floor, he glided out to centre stage, offered his outstretched hand to Madam Latriceie. Thankful for his assistance, but not where anyone could notice it, Madam Latriceie rose to the continued applause of the delighted audience!
I sat wide-eyed in the front row with my parents. At 8 years old, that was the second time I had attended a ballet, but I knew this moment, even at that tender age, would be one I would never forget! As it turned out, it was perhaps the most momentous occasion in my entire life for, that was the moment I decided the dance was what I wanted to do, to be, to live!!
There are things that occur in a young life that make such an impression that one never forgets the emotions, the aromas, the colors, all in that very moment of impact!
And now, 50 years later, after a whirlwind life filled with performances all over the world, more flowers than any perfumer has ever seen, an ocean of soothing foot baths and tons of pumice stones, and what must surely have been more spins than any planet in the universe, I was making my last professional performance! I never married! Dance was my life; my entourage and performers, my family. My manager, whom I had been in love with for years, but thought I was keeping that to myself what with all the other things going on in my life, was the closest thing to a life companion and seemed to share my passion for the dance, and for me, as I was to soon learn.
As the company gathered on the stage to take our last bows, the light suddenly seemed to shine on this wide-eyed little girl in the audience, her face beaming, seeming somewhat spellbound, standing next to her parents, front row, directly in front of me. So thrilled she was that she seemed rooted in place, hands clenched together in a frozen clap just under her chin, face up-turned in adoration!
Oh, how I knew that look! It was unmistakable!! I could feel the realization that had overtaken her!
Carefully, I stepped toward the edge of the stage, smiled down at her, and gently tossed my bouquet into the eager arms of who I knew would be the next Prima Ballerina
Sharon Cunningham
Facebook.com/sharon.cunningham.5076
© All Rights Reserved
