It's Time to Act

I'm lucky enough to have seen a professional ballet at La Scala in Milan, the Black Swan at its home in Moscow and a Nutcracker or two in Chicago, but nothing compares to what I call the '4-H Fair of dance' in a small town in Italy.

Last week's show was called Il Bel Paese (The Beautiful Country). The music was Italian, they used Vespas for props and the stage was lit with the red, white and green stripes of the flag (which always reminds me more of Christmas than Italy). I chose a seat in the last row of the balcony. It was hot and I wanted to be alone so I could uncross my legs and fan myself with the unevenly-folded, photocopied program the ballerina had handed me at the door.  

Like a proud parent, I always take videos and enthusiastically share them the next day with the same friends that have no interest in coming with me; the ones that have kids and ask why I'd go to a dance recital if I didn't have to.

The ballerinas come in all shapes and sizes and the bigger ones are never hidden in the back. Short-haired, pudgy ones get the same stage time as thin ones with buns. The audience 'aws' at the tiny ones in tu-tus and applauds those not quite on their toes in toe shoes. But this year the loudest cheers came for the four boys that wore baggy pants in the hip-hop routine and black tights and t-shirts to the arias of Andrea Bocelli.

In the glow of the Christmas lights I looked at the sea of heads separating me from the stage and wondered what thoughts were swimming in the minds of the small-town dads, grandpas and brothers watching the spettacolo (show). I'm sure there were some wannabee-dancers envious and proud of those four courageous boys doing what they really want to do.

If my students don't have homework I try to get them to talk about life. When I ask the guys about their dream job they usually hem and haw. Then, I fill in the blank with a professional soccer player and finally get an embarrassing nod. Next time, the open-minded, non-judjmental (albeit a little slow) teacher will be smart enough to fill in that blank with a professional soccer player OR a dancer.

Getting back to the question of why I go if I don't have to; because doing things you don't have to might remind you that all the world's a stage and you're free to pick the role you want. So, if you're tired of being a spectator and applauding someone else for something you'd like to be doing, it's time to grab your dancing shoes (or paintbrush or pen) and start performing.