| | Posted by Cathy
First, I’m going to tell you about my first performing experience. I don’t have any pictures, though. Lots of things have disappeared around here since I have just moved to a new house, so it’s going to take some time until I get everything figured out.

Well, I was 8 years old, and the ballet was La Fille Mal Gardée. I was one of the peasant kids, friends of Lise. The costume was really cute, a typical orange leotard with a typical peasant skirt, plus flowers in our heads that matched the outfit. By this time of the year, I had already gotten injured, so consequently I couldn’t attend many rehearsals, I missed lots, and I got sick too. Not a very fortunate end of year, as you may see. So, considering my lack of rehearsals, I was pretty much lost and didn’t know the choreography very well.( Just a note: The choreographer I worked with at this time is the same one that has been working with us in my current studio! ). Well I can’t remember many details, but in the performance day I was the ‘’late one'’, and did many of the things wrong =P But I remember mom did my make up at home, and all my family went to the theater to watch me. Sadly, after that, I had to leave ballet due to the injury in my feet, and that took me 3 years to come back!

About my first performance after this long break, I can remember way more details.
I had to dance with younger girls, what made me a bit frustrated in the beginning, but later on, I didn’t care. Afterall I had found out how much I loved what I was doing.
It was Swan Lake, and we were princesses. My teacher had to choose a few of us to stay on stage after the dance, while the odile’s pas de deux was happening. I was chosen, and you all can imagine how happy I was!
I would stare at pointe shoes wondering how was that feeling. Whenever I had the opportunity, I would watch the older girls rehearse. I was always amazed, they were such beautiful dancers, how could they do all those difficult things! And pointe shoes, pointe shoes… Of course my goal from that time on was to finally be able to wear them (that happened a few months later - I quickly became a very strong dancer. Hard work!!)
I remember all the dress rehearsals, how fantastic they would be. Seeing all the costumes, the girls in their tutus. First time I could really FEEL this atmosphere.
The outfit was a blue and shiny dress, not my favorite costume, definitely. But I was happy anyway.
Ah the feeling to be onstage again was also really good. But I felt the lights on my face and how WARM they are and how they make us sweat! (A fact that eventually we get used to, don’t we? haha ) I danced with so much pleasure, and this time I did know the choreography!

And 5 years later …
I will be performing the Nutcracker, and there’s SO MUCH to tell! But this will be my next post, as I am waiting for the cd with the pictures shot by the professional photographer (my own camera collapsed, I was so anxious to take BACKSTAGE pictures, but the thing decided to stop working! )