Tags
Ballet, Christmas, Dance, Dance Mom, France, Nutcracker, Nutcracker Stage Crew Wardrobe, Paris Opera Ballet
Yikes! It has been a really, really, really long time since I posted. Je suis désolée. I’m sorry. Welcome Back!
I realize that there are still 75 days until Christmas, however, ’tis the season for Nutcracker preparations in our house. My daughter dances with the local ballet company and my brain is in Nutcracker mode (aka Lost in the Land of Sweets) from now until December 1, the date of the last performance.
I truly would like to post regularly again. If only I could find someone to help me iron 150 costumes made up of 6,582,793 yards of tulle, and each layer of tulle must be ironed separately, in case you were wondering…
This is how I imagine I will dress when I go to see the ballet. If you click on the link you will see the way it is in my imagination. I am the calm, serene, elegant Snowflake.
In reality, this is what I will be wearing as I watch the show on the backstage monitors. This link will take you to the way I really move about backstage. I can jump just as quickly as these dancers do, only not quite so gracefully and with a little less tumbling. And if anyone tells you that ballet is easy, show them this clip. “Dancers are the hardest working athletes. Everyone else just plays games.”
In addition to costume ironing, in my 4th year as a back-stage busybody, I am now also qualified to touch-up make-up on mice, attach angel wings, adjust and/or sew ribbons, bows, ties, tulle, and head pieces, and, (drum roll) I can even repair broken swords for the Mouse King and the Nutcracker as needed. I will add those skills to my LinkedIn profile – angel wing attachment and plastic sword repair. I am certain that someone is in need of those skills.
Now for the French Twist. Ballet is a French word. The dance originated in Italy in the 1400s and the word ballet was derived from the Italian word ballare – to dance. Louis XIV formed the Académie Royale de Musique in the 1670s which eventually became the Paris Opera and the Paris Opera Ballet, the oldest ballet company in the world. The Paris Opera Ballet School opened in 1713 and is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year.
So, because the Paris Opera Ballet is celebrating its Tricentennial, or because the holiday season is quickly approaching, or because you would rather be in France and ballet is the next best thing to being there, get out and enjoy some live performances. Dance, music, art, theater – expand your cultural horizons. Learn and enjoy something new and refreshing, while supporting the artists in your community.
And as the Sugar Plum Fairy closes her book of dreams, I end this post and bid you au revoir and à bientôt, with a kiss on each cheek.
~FTW
French Twisted Woman 
Simply lovely post! Au revoir!
Merci!
welcome back! I’ve missed you!
Welcome back..now please stay. : )
Thank you. I will! You are actually the reason I posted yesterday. I was online looking for a book by an author named Vivienne, which led me to a link for the Vivienne Files, where I stumbled across the post of the two of you having tea. For a moment, I wished that I lived in Chicago, but then I remembered that I am cold enough where I am, so I stopped wishing for that and started my blog post. Thank you for the inspiration. Have a lovely day!
Beautiful … when I lived in UK I treated myself to the Nutcracker every year .. with the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House – and it was just the most exciting evening for me during the whole year to come. I understand that frilled over your daughter’s appearance in the ballet – one of the hardest/toughest jobs to be a ballet dancer, and they are not that well paid neither, but what an eye candy for the audiences. I wish your daughter the best of luck to part and performance. It’s such a beautiful ballet and the music is just wonderful. Welcome back to me!
Yes, when I hear Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker music now, it always makes me smile. If it were not so dangerous, I think the audience members should try on a pair of pointe shoes and attempt a fouetté or a grand jeté, and a plié or two. It is so difficult ant the ballerinas make it look so easy. Thank you for your comment – merci!
I love ballet … but I have never had an urge to dance myself – it is a truly tough and hard job to be a ballet dancer. But what a fantastic treat to watch.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker music is so delightful and it’s one of my favorite ballets – beside my “the Swanlake”.
I wish you a great week.
ooo la la! So nice to hear from you again. Delightful post. Don’t forget — with all the hubbub — to breathe. Happy holidays.
Breathing…in…out… Merci!