Balletwannabe

5 hours ago, griffie said:

Helene, was that book "Off Balance: The Real World of Ballet" by Suzanne Gordon? I remember it well. I had decided the year before it was published that I would not be pursuing a ballet career. I didn't feel I had the single-minded dedication it takes, or the ideal enough legs and feet, and I wanted to go to regular high school and have some fun instead of missing out on everything if I wasn't going to be a professional dancer. Reading that book really helped me feel that I had made the right decision. (That summer I was at SAB and bulimia was sadly very evident -  it's harder to hide than plain anorexia nervosa.)

You'd be surprised at how easy it is to hide Anorexia.  Many ballet dancers can remain a very low weight but still be "healthy" because they're consuming large amounts of calories but also burning them.  You wouldn't know the difference between that type of dancer and someone who is Anorexic.  It can often be at a "manageable" level for years, unfortunately. Unless someone is near death, you wouldn't know who has Anorexia.  Nobody, and I mean not one person at the treatment center I went to "looked" severely underweight.  The movie depiction of young girls with bones protruding is not an accurate reflection of the vast majority of those with Anorexia.  You can also have atypical Anorexia and not be underweight at all.  Just wanted to explain that because I don't think people realize how big of a problem it is in the general population.  It's very easy to hide.  

11 minutes ago, canbelto said:

In addition to negative comments being triggering, I'll say from experience that positive comments could also be triggering. For instance, I've had times in my life when I was subsisting on almost no food, and all I got were compliments for how "great" I looked. All that told me was that starving myself was a prerequisite to "looking great."

Very true.  

There's "disordered eating" and then there's "eating disorders"... It's hard to distinguish the two in the ballet world!  You're either predisposed to an eating disorder (genetically), or you're not.  I bet the vast majority of ballet dancers are engaging in "disordered eating", but once they realize how unhealthy it is, and if they choose to, they can change their habits.  Someone with a true eating disorder has a mental illness, and it's nearly impossible to treat it without a treatment team (doctors, nutritionists, phycologists), because it's not a choice to have one.  I worry so much about the ballet dancers that have the mental illness, because just one comment can trigger you right back into your illness (I was well along with my recovery and recently relapsed, ed's are sneaky...relapse it very common).  It's a tricky business.. because obviously their bodies are a part of their jobs.   But compassion goes a long ways!  I remember a comment on here a few months ago about how someone wished the dancer would "eat an avocado".  ANY comment about food, good or bad, actually makes eating disorders worse.  I cringe at comments like those!  Anyways... interesting subject for me because I'm in that world of Ed's.  It's not a club you want to be a part of.  

I just realized that if the kid vaccine is approved soon, 5 weeks is still early December (two shots three weeks apart plus two weeks after second shot)... Perhaps NYCB and other venues will be able to open their Nutcracker to vaccinated kids.  That would certainly help ticket sales!

7 hours ago, canbelto said:

Well it's never going to end if people are selfish and don't get vaccinated ...

I'm talking about what history has taught us about pandemics...Half of adults don't get the flu vaccine.  Can't force people.   

7 hours ago, nanushka said:

Yes, and “always” is an unwise word to use, I think, when considering world-historical events — especially those that get highly polarized by partisan politics.

Again...just looking at the history of pandemics.  I'm sticking with the word always.  

I doubt the booster will become a requirement to attend, some people got their vaccines later in the summer and 8 months out wouldn't be til Spring.  At some point, the pandemic does actually have to end (all the "pre-cautions" cost businesses money).  Things always go back to normal eventually, even when viruses continue to circulate (and it will).  I expect the 2022-23 season to be normal.  We'll see.  

12 minutes ago, BalanchineFan said:

It was hard for me to get through Alistair's new piece. It was like reading Thomas Jefferson defending slavery and harping about how hard his life was when it was discovered he got Sally Hemmings pregnant those 6 times. When Alistair started mentioning the women he knew who were fat or anorexic... I just had to stop. It's not about him. His voice is not what has been missing from the conversation. He really doesn't understand.

Sorry to hear you have an eating disorder @Balletwannabe and sorry for anyone else dealing with those issues. Some day I may write about my own journey with weight and eating. Do you ever write about it? Does that help?

 

Thank you for your kind comments- I write when I get overwhelming thoughts.  I'm not sure if it helps at this point, but I've been told by so many people (with various struggles) that's journaling helps, so I'm trying it.  

I have an eating disorder.  I've been to a treatment center.  You could never guess by looking at someone who has an eating disorder (gender, weight, job).  It's a debilitating mental illness.

We're just so used to seeing underweight dancers that an average sized one appears, "fat".  The confusion and ignorance is understandable.

I neglected to mention Mejia.  A highlight of the evening! I think I audibly gasped at his first solo portion, I was so blown away by his jumps. 

My first time seeing any of the ballets that were on the program last night.  I was surprised at how much I loved La Valse- kept me entertained- but I didn't know the story, so to me it was very exciting and the costumes were gorgeous. 

I loved how Tiler danced effortlessy- and silently. I love pointe work, and she doesn't make a sound, which I know is extremely difficult. 

I love the nude look in After the Rain, the aesthetics of the piece were more interesting to me than the actual dancing. 

Agon...I expected more...energy? Chemistry between the dancers on stage?  I don't know...  I still enjoyed it and didn't want it to end.  

Tiler dancing tonight:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVA9PMiFdpy/?utm_medium=copy_link

Hey now, I've never seen After the Rain!  Let us newbies enjoy it before suggesting they dump it 😆 I'll be seeing it Thursday (Unity debut I believe?)

Just stick a sandwich in your purse, they're not checking!  I'm bringing my own coffee this week.  Their coffee is gross, and I can usually drink any black coffee.  

My first time seeing Serenade last night and I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing it again anytime soon.  It was such a moving piece.  I loved the chemistry between Sterling-Bouder-Lecrone.

I'm glad they avoided intermission crowds at the bathrooms to have crowds at the bathrooms after the show, lol.  

Thanks to whomever politely told the person sitting next to me to stop recording the performance with her brightly lit phone.  I was too chicken to say anything.  

Any idea how I'm supposed to prove my minor daughter's identity..she doesn't have a photo ID.

There any number of things that are ridiculous when it comes to masking...  I have children in school so... Let's just say I think the goal when it comes to mask rules is more about *feeling* relatively safe, than actually being safe.  But at the same time let's remember with the 100% vaccine rate in the theater, everyone actually is safe.  

Question: are the "pauses" enough time to use the restroom?

I'm a ballet fan and especially a fan of NYCB, so much so that I drive my daughter out of state every day to train with one of the teachers in this documentary.  The students learning from them do not realize how fortunate they are.  To them it's just what they're used to...but to hear "Balanchine told me/us..." on a regular basis; that's invaluable.  

Is this her second time?  I thought she had it in 2020.

Wow, being unfamiliar with most of this story (besides the ballet company falling apart), this is a thrilling murder mystery...too bad it's not fictional.

Only performers 12+; 12& under allowed in audience (Nutcracker only) with negative test. 

I'll be asking for a refund if I show up to NYCB and the dancers are masked.  Not kidding.  I have to travel and pay a lot to go, I'm not paying to watch masked dancers.  I also think it's unfair and somewhat dangerous to the dancers.  They get extremely out of breath as it is.

11 minutes ago, canbelto said:

That's actually not true. In my school vaccines are mandatory for extracurricular activities and field trips. You must bring a doctor's note on why you cannot get the vaccine. Religious exemptions are not being accepted at this time.

Ok..so it's not true for your area.  This is how it works in my state.  

For school the religious exemption is a simple form.  No one questions parents decisions and no explanation is needed.  

Started it today, the first line of the first chapter had me hooked.  She doesn't hold back and I like that.  Authentic writing.