M, W 10-10:50am INTRO TO BALLET

It’s always inside of me, clawing and scraping, trying to find a way out. Just when I think it has stopped, and rest might come, I’ll get a Cher song stuck in my head and I plunge back into the dark abyss, each time going deeper and farther. In short, I have a love for the dance.

But then again, love and ability share nothing in common. Of course, this comes as no surprise when you consider my white, upper middle-class upbringing. The yearly Homecoming dance, an unfortunate suburbia ritual where nervous high-school boys get more and more nervous, came as close to getting your grove thang on as one could get.

My ignorance remained just that until 2001, when white mid-westerner Sara (Julia Stiles) moved to Chicago and befriended a black street dancer with a checkered past in Save the Last Dance. A new world opened up, and when Derek said to Sarah, in reference to her unique dance moves, “Wat’s up wit dat gurl?” I knew life would never be the same.

I digress.

My point is that I have enrolled in ballet class. This confession has generated an assortment of responses thus far, most consisting of scoffs and looks of sheer terror. Corrie Nelson admitted when she heard the news, via Josh Basdojidocmadso (read: Thomas), she almost started sweating. I’d like to think her elevated body temperature was stimulated by thoughts of me in a leotard doing a sweet alogne brought her to a state of semi-rapture, but I feel this is not the case. It was probably just good old fashioned anger with a bit of confusion.

But people, people! Think about it!

Last semester: Judo. A nauseating, infernal, smelly gym room on a bacteria ridden mat, rolling around with sweaty guys, often to end up in compromising positions.

This semester: Ballet. A refined, graceful, poetic and fluttering dance in an air conditioned studio full of girls in spandex. Did I mention there are full length mirrors in every direction?

And to the guys:
So really, if you’re one of those chauvinistic bone heads out there still struggling with your sexuality and think ballet is gay, then you need to do some serious soul-searching.

And to my supporters, Amanda Morrison, Sandy Orwell, Nikki Strobel, and to whoever else I've failed to mention, I thank you. I promise I'll be the best ballerina I can be!!