Ronde de Jambes in the Trenches
The S.E.A.L. was in full force last night. She seemed really frustrated because we had a bunch of new kids in class who, naturally, took some time to catch on.
(I watched the face of one new girl throughout the class. At first, she came in all bubbly, asking, "is this the adult ballet class?" The S.E.A.L. was nagging her the entire time at the bar - "turn your foot out! You are going to the back - lead with your baby toe! Feet on the floor, feet on the floor!" Things didn’t get much better during floor work. This poor girl left looking like she either wanted to cry or stab someone. If she hadn’t literally run out of the building after class, I would have pulled her aside to tell her, "it really does get better. I think.")
I was not lucky enough to escape the S.E.A.L. I got yelled at.
Scene: Nashville Ballet, Studio A. At the barre. Class is beginning first set of ronde de jambes a terre.
The S.E.A.L. is pacing, but uncharacteristically silent. She is a large woman - tall and broad - and obviously very muscular. Class has learned this means she is surprised by their ability to execute something. This does not, however, allow them to relax. Rather, it means she is surprised but biding her time to find something wrong.
Her eyes rest on one Dancer at the end of the center barre. She mentally checks herself. Turnout? Check. Not gripping the barre? Check. Completely circling the leg? Check.
The S.E.A.L. pounces. She stands two inches from this Dancer’s face. She, nearly a foot taller than this Dancer, looks down menacing.
S.E.A.L. (sneers): You’re not pulling in your ribcage.
Dancer contracts her stomach, lifts her chest…anything she can do to please.
S.E.A.L. (louder): No, you’re still not pulling in your ribcage! Pull in! In!
Dancer repeats these attempts, among other contortions.
S.E.A.L. (shouting): Pull IN! IN! LIKE I PUNCHED YOU IN THE GUT!
I was terrified. If I had been looking directly at her I would have either cried or melted into a heap on the floor.
God, I love that woman.
