day 988 / 87:
Limi has started ballet. i was keen for her to start tap instead {after this groundwork - see day 503} but they will only take them from five. dance classes bring back so many memories of my own childhood. i started ballet and tap at five and i'm sure that i was already convinced that i was as graceful as a swan. now, i get to see it from my mum's perspective who was probably thinking more along the lines of 'as graceful as a foal in rollerskates'. honestly, Limi's ballet class has become the highlight of my week (i have to hide my giggling behind my scarf.....is it bad to say that i've actually had tears rolling down my face?). the only swan in this class, is the teacher, who was a prima ballerina for the London Royal Ballet and makes walking across the room look like an extract from Swan Lake. the rest are a dozen mini rhinos in trainers with the laces tied together.
i was anti putting Limi into ballet this young but the structure of these classes is so brilliant that i decided to go ahead. the classes all follow a make believe story and the ballet positions are taught via the storyline e.g. going on a picnic and eating a long sandwich (second position of the arms). wonderfully, they are also accompanied by a live pianist. i did wonder what Limi would make of the teacher's sing-song voice and the girliness of it all.....but she is just as captivated as the other eleven girls. my favourite moments have been when the girls are asked (and guided) into a line and within a few steps the line disintegrates into a rugby scrum or; they were pretending to be graceful reindeer prancing across the room but resembled those stomping rhino instead or; when they were telling the story of Cinderella and hopping across the room on one booted foot (which is just a cruel thing to ask two year olds to do). and usually what tips me over the edge, is the curtsey at the end of each lesson where every girl resembles twisted spaghetti and at least one falls over in a tangled mess.
but they are completely oblivious to what they look like from our perspective (which is brilliant), they get to dress up in tutus/ wings/ whatever takes their fancy every week, take part in some fantastical adventure and try and imitate extreme elegance (and i'm sure in their heads, completely nail it)....so i'm not surprised that Limi is always excited on 'ballet days'.
i haven't had my camera to hand so i've captured it via Instagram (i've recently become hooked on this again). so, if you want to follow the ballet days and more mundane moments of our days, then you can find me here.
and in case you are experiencing any start-of-week blues, then this will cheer you up. it's not Limi's class (but it closely resembles it)......
