| 'Take
your time girl!'
by Cassa Pancho
Ballet School
On the 20th of April, the Ballet School finally opened. I
dragged Hugo (the Ballet Black web-designer) along for moral
support and we arrived in Shepherds Bush at 9:30am - with
the first class due to start at 10 o'clock. At 9:45 everything
was set up and ready to go, except the brand new stereo wouldn't
work. Of course that was probably because both Hugo and I
had missed the enormous ON/OFF switch at the back (his fault
entirely - he IS the technical genius after all). Once that
was sorted, and there was gorgeously sparkly music wafting
around the hall, the next tiny snag was that it was 10 o'clock
and there wasn't a wannabe ballerina in sight. Oh dear. I
was about ready to take myself plus the brand new (working)
stereo and go home and hide when the doors to the hall opened
and in flew all these little kids! I know that sounds a bit
Vomitville USA, but it was a lovely moment. There will be
much more to write about regarding the School at a later date,
but since that first Saturday, we've had new kids joining
the class each week so we're gradually building up a decent
number of pupils… Which is nice.
Ballet Black
April has been taken up with the usual rehearsals, company
classes and coaching. At least it would be the usual if the
dancers turned up when they were supposed to. We're trying
to work around everyone's schedule, which is becoming increasingly
difficult as people have other commitments. The other day,
Bruce asked me how many dancers are actually in Ballet Black.
So far there are nine - and trying to get all the dancers
into one studio, at the same time, on the same day is bloody
hard work. A typical Saturday for me is to teach at the Ballet
School in the morning then go to the RAD in Battersea for
BB company class, followed by rehearsals. Although I understand
why dancers can't always make it, it can be bitterly disappointing
when so few show up. How can I keep everyone motivated? How
am I going to make all of this actually happen? These are
some of the questions that keep me awake and fidgeting at
night. (By the way, if YOU know, put your answers on the back
of an e-card - and don't forget to include your age and address!)
About a year ago, someone said, "My dear, if you must
insist on starting this project, then for goodness sake, take
your time girl." Aside from the irritating use of the
words "girl" and "dear" I think this is
probably one of the best pieces of advice I've ever been given.
I need to keep reminding myself that it is okay to slow down
a little (but only a little!) and to breathe and think and
find the best way ahead.
ANYWAY! Enough of that. The next big step for Ballet Black
is to secure more funding, and after plenty of thought and
advice, it seems that the best course of action is to become
a registered charity. I've spoken to other people in the past
who have been strongly against doing this, for various reasons,
but what we need is money, and if this is the best way to
get it, then that's cool with me. In addition to all the Ballet
Black and Ballet School stuff, I've got two choreographic
jobs on, one of which was mentioned last month - a ballet
for the graduating third years from the RAD - and another
is putting on a section of Coppélia for some youths
in Kent…but more about that some other time…
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